Taiwo Popoola
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday, remanded the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending a hearing of his bail application.
Justice Maryann Anenih also adjourned the hearing in the N110 billion money laundering case brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to January 29 and 30 and February 25 and 27, 2027, for hearing.
The judge had earlier refused to grant a bail application filed by the former governor, saying it was filed prematurely.
Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling, said having been filed when the 1st defendant, Bello, was neither in custody nor before the court, the application was incompetent.
“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.
The former governor is standing trial, along with two others over an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Recalling the arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “Before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on 22nd November. The 1st defendant (Bello) seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. He is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”
She said the defendant’s counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.
Daudu urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.
In opposing the motion, the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had argued that the application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.
He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but Bello’s counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority “that says that an application can only be filed when it is ripe for hearing”.
While delivering her ruling, Justice Maryann Anenih, said, “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on the 22nd of November.
“This shows that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”
Citing provisions of the ACJA, the judge said the law provided that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.
Bello had applied for his bail on 22nd November 2024 but was taken into custody on 26th November 2024, and arraigned on 27th November 2024.
The 2nd defendant, Umar Oricha, was, however, granted N300 million bail, with two sureties, “who shall have property in the Maitama District of the FCT, within the jurisdiction of the court”.
He shall not travel outside without the leave of the court and shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The 3rd defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu, was also granted N300 million bail with the same conditions as the 2nd defendant.
The judge, however, said that each surety must enter into a bond for not more than one defendant, while the defendants were directed to deposit their international passports with the Court Registrar
