Justice Maryanne Anenih of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, summoned the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello to appear before her court on October 24, in respect of a fresh 16-count charge pending against him.
The order was sequel to an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which sought the arraignment of the former governor and two others, over alleged fraud to the tune of N110 billion.
In the suit marked: CR/7781/2024, Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were accused of spending over N110 billion of public funds to acquire several properties in Abuja and in Dubai.
The suit dated September 24 but filed on September 25, by the anti-graft lawyer, Mr kemi Pinheiro, SAN, accused the defendants of criminal breach of trust, an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the EFCC claimed that it had not been able to serve the fresh charge on the former governor and prayed the court to issue a public summons against Bello.
In a short ruling, the court granted the request and ordered
the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper.
She also ordered the EFCC to paste copies of the public summons on Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous places in court premises.
In the last five months, the EFCC had attempted to arraign Bello before a Federal High Court, Abuja, on an alleged money laundering charge to the tune of over N80 billion, but has not been successful.
Alex Enumah
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