EFCC Officially Serves Yahaya Bello’s Lawyer ₦84 Billion Fraud Charges Sheet

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially served the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, with a copy of the charge sheet for alleged fraud amounting to ₦84 billion.

Naija News reports that the latest action was taken after Yahaya Bello’s absence in court, following an order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges against Bello, which were served through his legal counsel, include 19 counts of alleged money laundering totalling ₦84bn.

In accordance with section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015, the judge directed Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohamed, to receive a copy of the charge on his behalf.

The court determined that if personal service of a legal process on a defendant is not possible, it can be done through substituted means. Justice Nwite also noted that the former governor’s failure to appear in court for his arraignment was evident.

Despite initially refusing to accept the charges and proof of evidence, Bello’s lawyer, Mohammed, was ultimately compelled to do so by Justice Nwite.

The judge denied the senior lawyer’s request for a junior lawyer, AI Musa, to accept the charges on behalf of the former governor.

A legal team member, Adedayo Adedipe, informed the court that his client, Bello, was willing to appear but had concerns about receiving a fair trial.

He stressed that Bello was prepared to address the 19-count charge from the EFCC in court.

Adedipe appealed to the court to revoke the ex-parte arrest order issued against the former governor, stating that his client had not been served with the charges at the time of the arrest order.