Former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, who is currently standing trial for alleged multi-billion-naira fraud, on Tuesday attended the Progressives Governors Forum – Renewed Hope Strategic Summit held at the Presidential Villa.
In a statement signed by Ohiare Michael and released by Bello’s media office, the former governor’s team confirmed that he participated in the summit organised by the Progressives Governors Forum, under the chairmanship of Hope Uzodimma.
According to the statement, the meeting brought together key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress to deliberate on policy direction, governance priorities and strategies to advance the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The event was attended by Bola Tinubu, who was described as the Guest of Honour.
Bello’s appearance at the high-level gathering comes amid his ongoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting him on 19 counts of money laundering, alleging the diversion of ₦80.2 billion from the Kogi State Government and several local government accounts between January 2016 and January 2024.
During a resumed hearing in January, an Access Bank compliance officer, Olomotane Egoro, testified that about ₦3.1 billion traced to Kogi local governments was paid into the account of a private company, E‑traders International Limited, before being distributed through cash withdrawals and transfers.
Egoro also told the court that more than ₦2.5 billion was paid into the account of another entity, Fazab Business Enterprise, from Kogi LGAs between May and December 2022. The witness confirmed that significant portions of the funds were withdrawn in cash, including nearly all of the ₦117.9 million inflow recorded in May 2022.
In a separate case before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Mr Bello also faces allegations of diverting ₦110 billion, which prosecutors say was used to acquire properties in Abuja and Dubai—claims he equally denies.
Last month, the trial court granted him permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj after his lawyers applied for the temporary release of his passport. Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request and directed that the defendant spend only ten days in the Holy Land beginning March 13.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Bello’s media office said his attendance at Tuesday’s summit formed part of broader consultations on national development, economic reforms and strengthening party cohesion in line with the vision of the current administration.
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