A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed November 27 for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaha Bello on alleged diversion of the state funds to the tune of N110.4bn.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 16 count charge against Bello and the two others, alleging criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4billion.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has granted administrative bail to two men – Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – charged with the former governor.
At the mention of the case yesterday before Justice Maryann Anenih, the prosecuting counsel, Jamiu Agoro told the court that the commission has granted administrative bail to Oricha and Hudu.
He said the anti-graft agency had, on October 18, complied with an order the court made after it issued a public summons for the 1st defendant (Bello) to appear before it to enter his plea to the charge.
Agoro noted that the public summons on Bello, which has a 30-day lifespan, was still extant and would expire by November 17.
In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate to take proceedings in this matter while the 30 days is still running,” he submitted.
He, therefore, applied for an adjournment to enable the ex-governor to honour the summons.
“If after the 30 days he is still not before the court, we will make the necessary applications.
“Meanwhile, in view of the situation, we apply for an extension of time within which the 1st defendant ought to appear before this court to honour the summons.
We also apply for the court to order that a hearing notice be pasted at the last known address of the 1st defendant, which is No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja,” EFCC’s lawyer added.
On their part, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mr. Aliyu Saiki, SAN, and Z. E. Abbas, respectively, while confirming that their clients have been granted administrative bail by the EFCC, said they were not opposed to the application for the case to be adjourned till a later date.
After she had listened to all the parties, trial Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the matter till November 27.
Justice Anenih ordered that a fresh hearing notice should be served on ex-governor Bello by pasting same at his Abuja residence and at a conspicuous place within the court premises.
Bello was charged alongside his co-defendants over their alleged complicity in a N110.4 billion fraud.
The charge against the defendants, marked CR/7781, bordered on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
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).
