EFCC arraigns Yahaya Bello’s wife, nephew over alleged N3bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rashida Bello, wife of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged N3billion fraud.

Mrs Bello was arraigned in absentia on Wednesday alongside one Ali Bello, identified as the governor’s nephew, and three others on an “18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira,” the EFCC said in a statement.

The charge reads in part: “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.”