N700m Diezani Cash: EFCC Re-arraigns Yero, Others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, November 21, 2022 re-arraigned a former governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on an eight count amended charges bordering on money laundering.
The re- arraignment is sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice M.G Umar, from the State.
Yero is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside Nuhu Somo Wya (a former minister), Ishaq Hamsa (a former Secretary to Kaduna State Government) and Abubakar Gaiya Haruna (a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state) for their alleged involvement in the receipt and disbursement of the sum of N700 million paid to them by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
Upon re-arraignment, the defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges.
Following their pleas, Yunus Usman, the defence counsel, prayed the court to allow the defendants remain on the terms of bail granted to them by the previous judge.There was no objection from the prosecution.
Consequently, the judge granted bail to the defendants on the same terms earlier offered them by the court
The case has been adjourned till January 2023 for trial.
