The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development, following a siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja by the commission.
Bello will face charges alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, totaling 19 counts of money laundering amounting to N80 billion.
The arraignment follows a court-issued warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted to the EFCC on Wednesday.
Among the charges, Bello is accused of conspiring to convert N80 billion, part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Count 17 of the charges alleges Bello’s involvement in aiding E-Traders International Limited to conceal over N3 billion in an Access Bank account, while count 18 accuses him of indirectly procuring the transfer of over $570,000 to a U.S. bank account.
The EFCC noted that its attempt to execute the warrant of arrest was met with resistance, as the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, facilitated Bello’s removal from his residence.
