Money laundering: Court blocks Yahaya Bello’s move to stop arraignment, knocks former governor

A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied Yahaya Bello’s request to halt his arraignment, criticizing the former governor’s absence in court and refusal to obey court orders. EFCC alleges that Bello and others laundered N80 billion, used for purchasing properties and storing funds in personal accounts abroad. Bello’s legal team filed multiple applications against the arraignment, questioning court jurisdiction and citing a Kogi State High Court order restraining his arrest.

The Federal High Court Abuja held on Friday that no application will be entertained from former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello until he comes to court and takes his plea regarding money laundering charges. Justice Emeka Nwite criticized Bello for disregarding the court’s orders. The verdict follows an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which urged the court not to entertain any application from Bello’s legal team until he is arraigned to take his plea.



Related Stories Canada fines Binance $4.38 million for money laundering violations amid probe in Nigeria Nigeria Air: Sirika, family members get N300 million bail in EFCC’s multi-billion fraud charges The EFCC alleged that the former governor and others laundered and stole N80,246,470,088.88, using the same to buy properties in Lagos and Abuja, including warehousing a part of taxpayers’ funds in his personal bank account in the United States.

Bello’s arraignment followed a warrant of arrest and enrol.