The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arraigned wife of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Rashida, one Ali Bello a nephew,before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court Abuja.A statement by EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren indicated that the duo were docked alongside three other persons, Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat on an 18-count charge “bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654″.
The EFCC spokesman said Rashida’s whereabouts is unknown at the time of arraignment.
According to him, Bello, Adaudu, Adabenege, Sadat and Rashida (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja were alleged to have procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00, the sum which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity.
Again, the defendants he said sometime in November, 2021 in Abuja 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, the sum which 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.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.
Based on their pleas, 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.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case till 13 February, 2023 and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application.