Yahaya Bello, Ododo visit Wike in Abuja

The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at his Abuja residence on Thursday afternoon.

Bello was accompanied by his successor and current Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The visit was disclosed in a statement by the minister’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

While no official reason for the visit has been provided, there is speculation that it may be an attempt to forge new alliances with key members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

This was the first time the former Kogi governor would be seen with the FCT minister since his ordeal began about one year ago.

Bello, who was the governor of the North Central state between May 2015 and May 2023, has not been seen with his former colleagues or APC chieftains since his fraud and money laundering trial began.

In December 2024, Bello was released on bail from the Kuje Custodial Centre. The former governor and two others are facing fraud charges involving N110 billion allegedly diverted from the Kogi State government’s coffers before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Bello pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025.

Also, Bello is facing N80 billion money laundering charges at a Federal High Court in Abuja.