Yahaya Bello, Former Governor of Kogi State
Yahaya Adoza Bello became a Governor of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria at age 40, at the time the country’s youthful population demanded political inclusion, bringing rare optimism to the young people. But his reign was dotted by numerous complaints of selfish policies and immature public utterances and behavours.
shortly after handing over to his predecessor, State agents accused Bello of financial fraud to the tune of 110 billion Naira. After avoiding arrest for nearly two years, Bello was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Bello’s arraignment caused uproar in the court as his followers readied for a showdown. Bello took over crowd control at the Federal High Court (FCT) High Court, Abuja, before Justice Maryann Anenih who left the courtroom out of anger.
Justice Anenih, who was to take the plea of the former governor and two others, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there was sanity in the courtroom.
Shortly after the Judge left the courtroom, Bello, who sat in front of the courtroom, jumped up and moved to the surging crowd.
He immediately directed his followers and sympathies to vacate their seats and leave the courtroom.
His actions doused the tension and his followers left the courtroom one after the other.
To ensure sanity in the courtroom, the former governor sat at the entrance and ensured that none of his followers disobeyed the order of the court.
All his aides and followers patiently obeyed his instructions and left the court one after the other.
After calm was restored in court, Bello pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor was arrested and detained by EFCC on Tuesday following a N110 billion fraud allegation against him.
Bello, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in the N110bn 16-count charge.
His co-defendants were on Tuesday granted administrative bail.
Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, is leading the federal government legal team for the arraignment while Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN, is leading the legal team of the former governor in the 16-count charge.