The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has updated its claims against Alli Bello, Daudu Suleiman, and Kogi’s former governor, Yahaya Bello.
The EFCC claims in the updated allegations presented to Justice James Omotosho that the accused misappropriated around N100 billion in public funds in September 2015, shortly before Yahaya Bello became governor.
Meanwhile, former Gov. Bello was not named as a defendant in the initial lawsuit and did not appear in court.
During the defendants’ re-arraignment, the former governor’s lawyer, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, objected to his client hearing the revised charges.
He based his objection on the claim that the anti-graft agency had gravely breached Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015.
The senior counsel further claimed that they had not been served with a copy of the amended charges, as required by the ACJA.
On the other side, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, representing the EFCC, urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s allegations, noting that the change was independently allowed.
In a brief order, Justice Omotoso reminded the court that he had previously allowed an accelerated hearing in the case and ordered that any objections be deferred until the address stage.
The judge then directed the court registrar to read the modified charges.
Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello, and Dauda Suleman were accused of collaborating in September 2015 to misappropriate N80,246,470,089 for personal gain.
They were charged with violating Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, since they should have known the funds were obtained through fraudulent conduct and breaches of public trust.
In addition, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of concealing several million naira with Rabiu Musa Tafada, an Abuja Bureau de Change operator who goes by the moniker Global Venture.
Aliyu, who represented Alli Bello at the time, requested that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, be summoned for additional cross-examination in light of the new charges.
Justice Omotoso allowed the plea after having no objections from the EFCC lawyer.
Meanwhile, the judge granted Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman a bail restriction imposed in earlier instances.
He delayed the trial to March 20 and 21.