Yahaya Adoza Bello, 51, former governor of Kogi State and Nigeria’s youngest serving governor during his time in office, is fighting simultaneously on two separate courtroom fronts. He faces 19 counts of money laundering over the alleged diversion of N80.2 billion from Kogi State Government accounts, while the EFCC is also prosecuting him in a separate corruption case at the FCT High Court for allegedly diverting N110 billion meant for the Kogi State government. Bello denies every charge.Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State, looks on during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election collation. Photo: Light Oriye Tamunotonye (modified by author) Source: Getty ImagesTABLE OF CONTENTSKey takeawaysWho is Yahaya Adoza Bello?Early life and educationCareer before politicsHow did Yahaya Bello become governor?Yahaya Bello’s wives and family lifeWho was Yahaya Bello’s first wife?The EFCC charges: What Yahaya Bello is accused ofThe ₦80.2 billion money laundering caseThe ₦110 billion fraud caseThe dramatic arrest sagaBello’s defenceLatest news: Where is Yahaya Bello now?Yahaya Bello’s net worthFAQsKey takeawaysYahaya Bello’s full name is Yahaya Adoza Bello, born 18 June 1975 in Okene, Kogi State.He was the youngest governor in Nigeria throughout his term in office, representing the All Progressives Congress.The EFCC arraigned Bello on 27 November 2024, and he and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.The Court of Appeal in Lagos reinstated an interim forfeiture order over 14 properties and N400 million allegedly linked to him.Despite the trial, Bello secured the APC senatorial ticket for Kogi Central District ahead of the 2027 general elections.Profile summaryDetailInformationFull nameYahaya Adoza BelloDate of birth18 June 1975Age51Place of birthAgassa, Okene, Kogi State, NigeriaTribe/ethnicityEbiraNationalityNigerianEducationBSc Accounting, MBA — Ahmadu Bello UniversityOccupationPolitician, accountant, businessmanPolitical partyAll Progressives Congress (APC)Office heldGovernor of Kogi State (2016–2024)WivesAmina Oyiza Bello, Rashida Bello, Hafisat Bello, Hiqma BelloKnown as”The White Lion”, “GYB”Who is Yahaya Adoza Bello?Yahaya Adoza Bello is a Nigerian businessman, accountant, and politician who served as Governor of Kogi State from 27 January 2016 to 27 January 2024 under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was the youngest governor in Nigeria throughout his tenure and the first in Nigerian electoral history in which a party substituted its candidate during an ongoing election process.He is of Ebira ethnicity, one of the three principal ethnic groups of Kogi State. He is known informally as “the white lion” or “GYB,” an abbreviation of his title and name that became widely used in public and political discourse during his governorship.Early life and educationBello was born on 18 June 1975 in Agassa, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, to Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi and Hajiya Hawawu Oziohu. He is the lastborn of six children.Top five facts about Yahaya Adoza Bello. Photo: @OfficialGYBKogi/Facebook (modified by author) Source: OriginalBello enrolled for Advanced Level examinations at Kaduna State Polytechnic in 1995 and gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1996, where he studied accounting, graduating in 1999.
He subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University in 2004.Career before politicsBello began his professional career during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, where he worked with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.Bello founded FairPlus International Ltd, a logistics and transportation company, before joining politics. His business interests included oil and gas, real estate, transportation, agriculture, and financial services.How did Yahaya Bello become governor?His political career began with a loss to Abubakar Audu in the APC gubernatorial primary in 2015. Audu won the election but died on election day; Bello was selected to replace him as party nominee and was sworn in the following year.Bello was sworn in as Governor of Kogi State on 27 January 2016, becoming one of the youngest governors in Nigeria’s history at age 40. He was re-elected for a second term on 16 November 2019, serving until 27 January 2024.Yahaya Bello’s wives and family lifeBefore his latest marriage, Bello was already married to three women — Amina Oyiza Bello, Rashida Bello, and Hafiza Bello.
He has since married a fourth wife, Hiqma, in a ceremony held in Abuja attended by close friends and family members.Who was Yahaya Bello’s first wife?Amina Oyiza Bello, née Yakubu (born 2 April 1978), is a Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist, and the first wife of Yahaya Bello. She is the CEO of Fairplus International Ltd, founder of Hayat Foundation, and a businesswoman and humanitarian.Rashida Yahaya Bello served as First Lady of Kogi State as the spouse of Governor Yahaya Bello. She grew up in Jattu, in Etsako West local government area of Edo State.Bello’s fourth and most recent marriage was confirmed by his third wife, Hafiza, in an Instagram post welcoming the new bride and expressing her joy. According to The Street Journal, she wrote:Alhamdulillah, our family just got a little bigger and more loving!
A warm welcome to our new family member, Mrs. Hiqma Yahaya Bello! May Allah bless our union and fill our home with love, peace, and Barakah. AminThe EFCC charges: What Yahaya Bello is accused ofYahaya Bello’s legal battles are arguably the most dramatic of any former Nigerian governor in recent memory.
He faces two separate prosecutions running concurrently.The ₦80.2 billion money laundering caseBello is being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Emeka Nwite for alleged diversion and misappropriation of Kogi State funds to the tune of ₦80.2 billion while serving as governor.Specifically, the EFCC alleged that he used five proxies to acquire 13 choice properties in highbrow areas of Abuja and Dubai. It told the court that the properties were acquired with proceeds of crime.The ₦110 billion fraud caseBello, Shuaibu Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu were accused of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to commit an offence involving ₦110.4 billion.The counts include allegations that Bello diverted Kogi State funds while he was governor to buy properties in Abuja and Dubai. After refiling his application, the court on 19 December 2024 granted him N500 million bail with conditions, including two sureties and the deposit of his passport with the court.The dramatic arrest sagaBefore his eventual arraignment, Bello’s path to court was explosive. The EFCC declared Bello wanted on 18 April 2024 for alleged money laundering.
On 17 April, armed men and police thwarted the EFCC’s attempt to apprehend Bello at his Abuja residence.The EFCC had stormed Bello’s residence at various times to arrest the former governor, but his successor, Usman Ododo, came to his rescue, whisking him away to his lodge.The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to the former governor. Senior police sources, as reported by The Punch, noted that the officers were arrested on suspicion that they aided and abetted Bello’s escape from EFCC operatives who had gone to effect his arrest at his Abuja home. A press statement from his media office said operatives of the anti-graft agency surrounded the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, and repeatedly fired gunshots in their bid to arrest him.The EFCC operatives eventually arrested Yahaya Bello in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure. The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the former governor was arrested at about 12:54 p.m. on Tuesday and detained at the EFCC
