Confusion reigned supreme at the Abuja Federal High Court, today, following amended charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman and the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The anti-graft agency claimed in the amended charges that the duo allegedly diverted about N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months before former Bello assumed office as governor.
Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, was not a defendant in the original suit, and was therefore not present in court.
However, Ali Bello, currently Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, and Dauda Suleman both denied the fraud allegations in the amended charges brought against them at the fresh arraignment on Thursday.
Both Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman vehemently denied the allegations contained in the 17-count amended charges and their plea was taken by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso.
Earlier, Yahaya Bello, through his counsel, A.M. Aliyu SAN, had objected to reading of the amended charges against him.
His ground of objection was that the anti-graft agency had woefully failed to comply with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The senior lawyer submitted that a copy of the amended charges was not served on them as required by the provisions of the ACJA Act.
EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, asked the court to reject the arguments of the defendant, adding that the court has, on its own, endorsed the amendment.
In a brief ruling, Justice Omotoso recalled that he had granted accelerated hearing in the matter and had also ordered that all forms of objections must be kept in abeyance till address stage.
Justice Omotoso then directed the Registrar of the Court to read the amended charges.
In the first count, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of conspiracy in September 2015 and conversion of N80, 246, 470, 089 to their personal use.
They were alleged to have run foul of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 because they ought to have reasonably known that the money was a product of fraud and criminal breach of public trust.
In the other charges, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were alleged to have concealed several millions of naira with one Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change BDC operator trading under the name, Global Venture, in Abuja.
Alli Bello’s counsel, Aliyu SAN, applied that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, be recalled for fresh cross examination in view of the contents of the amended charges.
The request was granted by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso due to no opposition from the EFCC lawyer.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotoso has ordered that Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman should continue to enjoy the bail conditions granted them in the previous charges.
