he former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello has pleaded not guilty to a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello is, in the charge, accused of diverting funds belonging to Kogi State to acquire, through proxies, property both in Nigeria and abroad.
When the charge was read to Bello by an official of the court, he said he understood all the counts and pleaded not guilty to all of them.
His lawyer, Joseph Daudu, (SAN) told the court that his client’s failure to attend court before now, was not out of disrespect, but a desire to fully defended himself.
Daudu said the decision of his client to challenge, up to the Supreme Court, the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case was not out of disrespect.
“It was an episode that could have been avoided but it has come and gone. Things are clearer now,” Daudu said.
[TheNation]