Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Maitama on Tuesday denied Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, bail and ordered him to be remanded in prison until January 29, 2025.
Persecondnews recalls that Bello has been remanded in EFCC’s custody since November 25 over a 16-count charge bordering on mismanagement of state funds, embezzlement, and abuse of office.
He is currently on trial for his alleged involvement in a massive N110 billion fraud along with two other officials of the Kogi State Government—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—who were cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the case.
The judge ruled that the bail application filed by Bello was premature and incompetent, as it was submitted before he was taken into custody or arraigned in court.
The court observed that Bello had submitted his bail application even before surrendering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Anenih questioned the timing of Bello’s bail application, emphasizing that such applications are typically filed to challenge a defendant’s detention, yet Bello submitted his motion before he was even taken into custody.
The judge held: “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”
The EFCC during the hearing had specifically urged the court to turn down Bello’s bail request.
The agency, represented by its counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that Bello, the 1st defendant, had consistently evaded trial, refusing to make himself available despite repeated invitations.
It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.
The EFCC contested the validity of Bello’s bail application, pointing out that it was submitted on November 22, a full five days before his arraignment.
Consequently, it prayed the court to dismiss the bail application that Bello filed through his legal team led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN).
In the bail application, which was based on six grounds, Bello argued that as an accused person, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law.
Maintaining his innocence, Bello argued that his continued detention would hinder his ability to adequately prepare his defence.
The defence lawyer urged the court to ignore the EFCC’s claim that his client refused to submit himself for trial.
After hearing arguments from both lawyers, the judge rejected Yahaya Bello’s plea and ordered that he be remanded in Kuje prison.
Justice Anenih adjourned the trial until January 29 and February 25-27, 2025.
The court also granted bail to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, respectively, in the sum of N300 million each with two sureties in the like sum.
It specified that the two sureties must be property owners in Maitama, with assets valued at not less than N300 million, and they are required to deposit their original title documents with the court as a condition for the bail.
Furthermore, the court ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, providing proof of their financial capability, and deposit copies of their passports with the court as additional conditions for the bail.
Additionally, the court ruled that Oricha and Hudu must surrender their travel documents and be remanded in prison custody until they fulfil the specified bail conditions, at which point they will be released.
Persecondnews reports that Yahaya Bello and his co-defendants, Oricha and Hudu, entered a not guilty plea on November 27 to the 16-count charge and were remanded in EFCC custody pending the outcome of their bail applications.
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