The Federal High Court in Abuja returned Ali Bello, a nephew of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, to prison on Monday. Bello is awaiting trial on 18 counts of alleged involvement in a ₦3 billion fraud, charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him and three co‑defendants.
The indictment alleges that, in June 2020, Ali Bello, Abba Adauda, Yakubu Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and Rashida Bello (at large) procured E‑Traders International Limited to retain a total of ₦3,081,804,654.00, which they should have known was proceeds of unlawful activity involving criminal misappropriation. This constitutes an offence under sections 18(a) and 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act. A further allegation states that, in November 2021, Ali Bello, Abba Adauda and Rashida Bello (at large) caused E‑Traders International Limited to transfer $570,330 to account 426‑6644272 at TD Bank in the United States, also knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity, thereby violating section 15(2)(d) of the Act.
Other defendants in the case include Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyada Sadat. At the resumed hearing, counsel Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that the EFCC had served a counter‑affidavit late on Friday. Although EFCC lawyer M.K. Hussein confirmed the filing, Justice Obiora Egwuatu noted that the document was not in the court’s file and had been sent to another court. Consequently, the judge deferred consideration of the bail applications and the EFCC’s counter‑affidavit to Tuesday and ordered that all defendants be returned to prison custody.
Earlier, on 8 February, Justice Egwuatu had remanded the defendants to Kuje prison after they entered pleas of not guilty. Their lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, had sought bail pending trial, arguing that the charges were bailable offences. The EFCC opposed the bail request, citing a flight risk, and asked for a trial date and time to file its counter‑affidavit. The charges against the defendants encompass conspiracy, fraud, criminal misappropriation and money laundering involving ₦3,081,804,654.00.
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