The money laundering
trial of two family members of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, his
nephew, Ali Bello and his wife Rashida Bello ( at large) resumes today
February 13, 2023 before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court,
Abuja.
The
Ali Bello was among four defendants remanded upon arraignment on February 8,
2023 on 18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and moneylaundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One
Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Nair) The
other defendants are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyada Sadat.
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 N3,081,804,654.00 (Three
Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and
Fifty Four Naira) 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”.
Count
3 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 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United
States Dollars) 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”.
Count
17 reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO(at large) between
26th July, 2021-6th April, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to remove from the
jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to account no. 426-664-4272 domiciled in TD
Bank, United States of America, the aggregate sum of $570,330 (Five Hundred and
Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United States Dollars) which sum you
reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity
to wit; criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 15(2) ( c ) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011
as amended and punishable under section 15 ( 3 )of the same Act.”
Count
18 reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO(at large)
between 26th July 2021 -6th April, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to remove from
the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to account no. 426-664-4272 domiciled
in TD Bank, United States of America, the aggregate sum of $845,852.84 (Eight
Hundred and Forty-five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-two United States
Dollars) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the
proceeds of unlawful activity to wit; criminal misappropriation, and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(c ) 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 the charges preferred against them. In view of
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 remanded the defendants and adjourned the case till February 13, 2023 for hearing and determination of their bail applications.
