Aliyu Bello, a nephew to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been remanded in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged N10.2 billion fr@ud.
Justice James Kolawole remanded Ali Bello, and one Dauda Sulaiman in prison pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects were remanded upon arraignment alongside one Abdulsalami Hudu, Cahier of Kogi State House Administration (now at large) on a 10-count charge of misappropriation and money laundering
Messrs Bello and Sulaiman are accused of fraudulently withdrawing a sum of N10, 270,556,800 from the Kogi State treasury, which they delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in Abuja to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.
They, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Counsel to the second and third defendants, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, informed the court of his application for the bail of the defendants.
Justice Omotosho admitted the defendants to bail in the sum One Billion Naira each and two sureties who are to provide a bond of N2billion each and have a landed property valued at N500 million. The title of the properties shall be registered with the chief registrar of the Court.
Each of the sureties and the defendants shall submit their bank statements and international passports to the chief registrar of the Court.
The sureties must also produce an affidavit of means and evidence of tax clearance for at least 3 years.
The judge thereafter sent the defendants to Kuje Correctional centre, Abuja pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till February 6, 2023 for hearing
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