President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, on his 50th birthday, commending his role in promoting youth involvement in governance.
The president’s message, conveyed in a statement issued by the presidency on Wednesday, comes 14 months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Bello wanted over an alleged N80 billion fraud.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extends his warm felicitations to Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State, on the occasion of his 50th birthday,” the statement reads.
“The President commends Yahaya Bello’s historic emergence as the youngest democratically elected governor in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and his role in advancing youth participation in governance.
“As he marks this golden milestone, President Tinubu wishes Alhaji Yahaya Bello continued good health, strength, and fulfilment in the years ahead.”
Bello served as governor of Kogi from 2016 to 2024. He was first elected at the age of 40 following the death of Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election.
The former governor is currently facing trial over alleged financial crimes.
In April, the EFCC declared him wanted after he failed to appear for arraignment on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.
The anti-graft agency accused Bello of laundering N80 billion while in office.
The commission later secured a warrant of arrest against him and notified Interpol, which issued a red notice to facilitate his apprehension across international borders.
Following weeks of evasion, Bello appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on November 26, 2024, and was taken into custody.
He was arraigned before a federal high court on December 13 and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bello was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties and conditions including the submission of his international passport to the court.
The court has since commenced trial, with EFCC witnesses giving testimony on alleged financial transactions linked to Bello’s tenure.
