The Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Alli Bello and one Daudu Suleiman have been re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on amended charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly diverting about N100 billion belonging to the State government.
The EFCC claims that the offence was committed in September 2015, months before Yahaya Bello assumed office as Governor.
The immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello is however also mentioned in the amended charges read to the defendants in Court on Thursday.
Ali Bello and Dauda Suleman have pleaded not guilty to the seventeen count charge before Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Earlier, Counsel to Ali Bello, Abubakar Aliyu had objected to the reading of the amended charges, on the ground that the anti-graft agency had failed to comply with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, as a copy of the amended charge was never served on them.
But, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo countered the submission, urging the Court to reject the arguments of the defendant.
MUST READ: Kogi Alleged Looting: Rights Group Urges EFCC To Conclude Investigations
In a short ruling, Justice James Omotoso observed that the Court had granted accelerated hearing on the matter and ordered that all forms of objections must be kept in abeyance till the address stage.
The charges were then read to the defendants, who pleaded not guilt.
The defense counsel, Abubakar Aliyu again applied to the Court that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada be recalled for fresh cross examination in view of the contents of the amended charges.
The application was not opposed by the EFCC lawyer and the request was granted by the Court.
Justice Omotoso therefore ordered that Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman should continue to enjoy the bail conditions granted them in the previous charges.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
