A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has ordered the immediate remand of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending his bail application.
According to the court’s ruling, Bello may remain in custody until January 29, when further proceedings in the criminal case against him are scheduled.
He is facing trial, along with two others, on an alleged N110 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a previous ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih found Bello’s bail application to be incompetent, stating that it was filed prematurely.
She explained that the application was submitted while Bello was neither in custody nor before the court.
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Consequently, she refused the bail application, saying, “The instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”
Bello filed his bail application on November 22, prior to his arrest on November 26 and subsequent arraignment on November 27.
In separate rulings, Justice Anenih granted bail to each of Bello’s co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu set at N300 million, with two sureties in the same amount.
The judge specified that the sureties must possess property worth the stipulated amount within the court’s jurisdiction.
Further proceedings have been adjourned until January 29 of next year.
It has been reported that Bello’s lawyers may file a new bail application and request an early hearing date.
If the court grants this request and approves the new bail application, Bello could potentially avoid spending the holiday period in Kuje Correctional Centre.
