Former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who is standing trial for alleged two fraud cases, says he would contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently occupying the seat.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently prosecuting the former governor before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
At the Federal Court, Justice Emeka Nwite is hearing the case against bello for alleged diversion and misappropriation of Kogi State funds to the tune of ₦80.2 billion while serving as governor, while at the FCT High Court, the former governor is facing prosecution for alleged N110.4 billion frauds before Justice Maryanne Annenih.
The two cases’ last hearings against Yahaya Bello came up on November 11 and 13 this year.
On November 13, the hearing was at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, where a Zenith Bank compliance officer testified about multiple cash withdrawals from Kogi State Government accounts where the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Mashelia Bata, told the court that between 2016 and 2018, large sums were withdrawn from the state’s accounts, allegedly by Abdulsalami Hudu and others.
The EFCC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), leading in evidence cross-examined Bata who described a pattern of multiple cash withdrawals and transfers from Kogi State Government accounts between 2016 and 2018, allegedly conducted by Mr Hudu and others.
“On February 12, 2016, there were 21 withdrawals by Abdulsalami Hudu, totalling N200 million,” Bata testified. “Similarly, on 10 March 2016, I observed numerous withdrawals amounting to N326,598,750, though the actual total was N100 million.”
Bello declared his intention when he visited the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders from the senatorial district.
He said he was accepting a call to run for the Senate in 2027.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as well as other political figures and community leaders from in the district accompanied Bello on the visit.
Governor Ododo appealed to Bello to accept calls from party leaders and constituents urging him to represent Kogi Central at the National Assembly.
The governor made the appeal in the presence of the Ohinoyi and other personalities from the area.
Bello was the state governor from 2016 to 2024.
