The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has remanded the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello, along with his two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

The charges border on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
The EFCC opposed Bello’s bail application, citing his repeated failure to appear for trial.

The agency also argued that the bail application was premature, as it was filed before the defendants were arraigned.
The court has set December 10 as the date to rule on Bello’s bail application. In the meantime, Bello and his co-defendants will remain in EFCC custody.

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Allegations Against Bello
The EFCC alleges that Bello misused state funds to acquire several properties, including:
No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million)
No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million)
No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million)
Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million)
Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams)
The defendants are also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.
Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello, contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.
His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him, around 11pm on Tuesday, November 26.
He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued on him.
More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.
The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter, were available.
He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
More so, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.