The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wednesday, arraigned one Ali Bello, a nephew of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court Abuja, over N3billion fraud.
EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a press statement in Abuja, said: “Bello was docked alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large) on an 18-count-charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.
He said count one of the charge reads: “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, YAKUBU SIYAKA ADABENEGE, IYADA SADAT, RASHIDA BELLO (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
The spokesperson said count three reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO (at large) sometime in November, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you 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.”
Uwujaren said the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against the and in view of their pleas, the Prosecuting Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to give a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
However, Defence Counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), prayed the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
He said 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.
