By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mrs Rashida Bello, the wife of Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Governor’s wife, who is at large, was brought before the court alongside Mr Bello’s nephew, Mr Ali Bello, and three others over allegations of N3.1 billion fraud.
The EFCC, which brought Mr Abba Adauda, Mr Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Ms Iyada Sadat to court today, filed an 18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering against the suspects.
According to the agency, the defendants, sometime in June 2020 in Abuja, procured E-Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3.1 billion believed to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation said the defendants in November 2021 in Abuja also procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, “which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
However, they pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them, which prompted the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) to urge the court to give a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
But the defence counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), prayed the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case till February 13, 2023, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre pending the determination of the bail application.
Adedapo Adesanya