Confusion arose on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to amended charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Alli Bello, Daudu Suleiman, and the former Governor of Kogi State.
In the revised charge presented before Justice James Omotosho, the EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted approximately N100 billion from the state government in September 2015, months before ex-Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office.
Former Governor Bello was not initially named as a defendant in the original suit and was absent from the court proceedings.
During the re-arraignment of the defendants, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, representing the former governor, objected to the reading of the amended charges against his client.
Aliyu argued that the anti-graft agency had not complied with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, as they had not been served a copy of the amended charges.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to reject the defendant’s arguments, stating that the court had already approved the amendment.
Justice Omotoso, in a brief ruling, recalled that he had granted an expedited hearing in the case and had instructed that all objections be deferred until the address stage.
The judge then directed the court registrar to read the amended charges to the defendants.
After the 17-count charge was read, Alli Bello, the current Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, and co-defendant Dauda Suleman, pleaded not guilty to the fraud allegations presented in the amended charges.
In the first count, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello, and Dauda Suleman were accused of conspiring in September 2015 to convert N80,246,470,089 for personal use.
They were charged under Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 for allegedly knowing the money was from fraud and criminal breach of public trust.
Additionally, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of concealing millions of naira with a Bureau De Change operator, Rabiu Musa Tafada, trading under Global Venture in Abuja.
Aliyu, representing Alli Bello, requested the recall of one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, for fresh cross-examination in light of the amended charges, a request granted by Justice Omotoso without opposition from the EFCC.
The judge then maintained the bail conditions previously granted to Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman in the prior charges.
The case was adjourned until March 20 and March 21 for the continuation of the trial.
