The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued an order that Yahaya Bello, who formerly served as the governor of Kogi State, be transported to the Kuje Correctional Centre for further detention. At this time, the court is awaiting the hearing of his bail application, which is scheduled to take place in January of 2025.
The case is being presided over by Justice Maryann Anenih, who has decided to postpone the proceedings until January 29 and 30, as well as February 25 and 27, while simultaneously rejecting Bello's request for bail on the grounds that it violates the procedures. It was pointed out by the judge that Bello's bail application, which was submitted on November 22nd, was issued too early.
She went on to clarify that in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025, a defendant is only permitted to make a bail application after they have been arrested, detained, arraigned, or produced before the court. Bello was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 26.
On November 27, he was arraigned alongside two other co-defendants, namely Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu both of whom were also arrested. A total of sixteen counts of money laundering, involving a total of ₦110 billion, have been brought against them. None of the three entered guilty pleas.
While the court would not award bail to Bello, it did grant bail to his co-defendants while imposing harsh conditions on their release. Both Oricha and Hudu were given bail in the amount of ₦300 million, with the requirement that they have two sureties who own properties in the Maitama region of Abuja.
The defendants were instructed to hand over their passports to the court registrar, and the sureties were required to post separate bonds, one for each of the defendants. Since Bello is now being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, he will remain there until the court restarts its procedures in the following year.
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