Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned a former governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero, before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, on eight counts amended charges related to money laundering and criminal activities.
Yero is currently facing trial alongside erstwhile minister in power Nuhu Wya, the ex-scribe to Kaduna State Government, Ishaq Hamsa and former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Abubakar Haruna in the state, for their allegedly receiving and distributing the sum of N700 million paid to them by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the results of the 2015 presidential poll.
The re-arraignment followed the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice M.G. Umar to another court.
At the preceding, the prosecution counsel, Nasiru Salele, informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment of the defendants and urged the court to ask them to take their pleas.This was as he added that the charges were read to the defendants, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
According to Uwujaren, following their pleas, the defence counsel, Yunus Usman, urged the court to extend to the defendants the terms of the bail earlier granted them by the former judge.
“Justice Umar granted bail to the defendants on the same terms earlier offered them by the court. The case was adjourned till January 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2023, for trial.”
