Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, entered a not-guilty plea on Friday to the 18-count allegation the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had brought against him.
The charge involves allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and embezzlement of over N80.2 billion in public monies.
Bello replied that he was not guilty of all 18 counts after the charge was read to him.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, communicated the prosecution’s desire to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date set for arraignment to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, when the case was called for hearing.
He said that circumstances had taken precedence over the application.
However, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the defendant’s attorney, did not raise any objections, so Justice Nwite approved the request.
