Yahaya Bello’s nephew under trial for N3 billion fraud appointed chief of staff to new Kogi governor

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo has appointed Ali Bello, the nephew of immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello, as his chief of staff.

The new governor announced the appointment on Saturday after he took his oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony.

The former governor’s nephew takes up this new appointment despite being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering and misappropriation of over N3 billion.

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In 2023, the anti-graft agency arraigned Mr Bello, along with two others, before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on 18 charges.

The court admitted Mr Bello and the three others to N500 million bail on February 20, 2023.

The other defendants in the case are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and the Kogi First Lady, Rashida Bello.

The EFCC is prosecuting them in suit No ABJ/CR/573/2022.

They are facing charges of misappropriation and money laundering.

According to a statement by EFCC in 2022, Messrs Bello and Sulaiman were remanded in prison pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions granted. The judge granted them bail in the sum of N1 billion each.

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The defendants are accused of fraudulently withdrawing over N10 billion (N10, 270,556,800), from the Kogi State treasury, which they allegedly delivered to a bureau de change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in Abuja, to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.

Meanwhile, Mr Ododo also reappointed his successor’s commissioners, including Farouk Danlami, Salami Ozigi-Deedat, Basiru Abubakar, Adams Abdulaziz, Joseph Oluwaseun, Muzi Yinusa Abdullahi, Wemi Jonze, Rabiatu Okute, Fanwo Kingsley, Fatima Momoh, Mohammed Yusuf, Timothy Ojoma, Sunday Faleke, Abanika Taye, Asiwaju Idris Asiru, and Mohammed Adbulmutalib.

Other appointments include Folashade Ayodele Arike as Secretary to State Government, Hilary Ojoma as the deputy chief of staff, Elijah Evinemi as the head of service, Jerry Omodara as security adviser, and Isah Ismail as special adviser on media.

Peoples Gazette