Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, entered a not guilty plea on Friday to the 18-count allegation that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had brought against him.
The charge involves allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and embezzlement of over N80.2 billion in public monies.
Bello replied that he was not guilty of all 18 counts after the charge was read to him.
The prosecution’s desire to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date set for arraignment was communicated to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, when the case was called for hearing.
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He said that circumstances had taken precedence over the application.
But Joseph Daudu, SAN, the defendant’s attorney, did not raise any objections, thus Justice Nwite approved the request.