The Federal Capital Territory High Court has remanded the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.
On Tuesday, December 10, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the hearing of the N110 billion money laundering case against Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27, 2027.
The court also rejected a bail application filed by Bello, ruling that it was prematurely submitted. Justice Anenih stated that the application was filed before the defendant was in custody or before the court, rendering it incompetent.
In her ruling, she said, “Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused.”
Bello, along with two others, is facing charges in connection with an alleged N110 billion money laundering scheme.
During the bail hearing, Bello’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) JB Daudu, argued that Bello was a two-term governor and should be granted bail. Daudu assured the court that Bello would not interfere with witnesses or flee if released.
However, the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the motion, arguing that it was incompetent since it was filed before the arraignment.
Justice Anenih noted that Bello had filed the application on November 22, 2024, while he was taken into custody on November 26, 2024, and arraigned the following day.
In related developments, co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were each granted N300 million bail with two sureties who must own property within the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory. Both must remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are met and are prohibited from traveling abroad without court approval. Additionally, the defendants were required to deposit their international passports with the court registrar.
