A new hearing took place on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Ali Bello and Daudu Suleiman, alleged to have misused N84 billion, were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Last December, the EFCC originally accused Bello, who is related to the former governor, and Suleiman of misappropriation and money laundering, presenting them with 10 charges.
The EFCC claimed that Bello and a government house cashier, Hudu, who is currently at large, withdrew N10 billion from the state's funds for personal use.
In the updated charges, the EFCC escalated the count to 17, pertaining to money laundering, breach of trust, and fund misappropriation, totaling N84 billion.
The wrongdoing involved a massive sum of N84 billion.
The former governor's name was mentioned in one of the counts, alleging that he is currently at large.
The first charge accused Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Yahaya Adoza Bello, and Abdulsalam Hudu of conspiring to convert N80 billion which they knew was obtained unlawfully, resulting in an offense under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Additionally, the EFCC accused Ali Bello and Dauda Suleman of concealing millions of naira with a Bureau De Change operator in Abuja.
When the charges were presented, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The judge ordered that Ali Bello and Suleman should retain their bail conditions from the previous charges.
The trial is scheduled to continue on March 20 and March 21.
