PeakNews Online
- Hearing on N110bn Money Laundering Case Adjourned to January 29
Abuja – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application.
Justice Maryann Anenih, who presided over the case, refused to grant an earlier bail application filed by the former governor, describing it as “premature.” The judge stated that the application was filed before Bello was taken into custody or arraigned in court, rendering it incompetent under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
“The instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused,” Justice Anenih ruled.
Bello is standing trial alongside two others, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, in connection with alleged N110 billion money laundering charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the bail application was invalid as it was submitted before the former governor’s arraignment on November 27, 2024. However, Bello’s counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, contended that there was no rule preventing such an application and urged the court to exercise its discretion.
The court scheduled further hearings on the case for January 29 and 30, as well as February 25 and 27, 2025.
Bail Decisions for Co-defendants
The court granted bail to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, respectively. Both were granted bail at N300 million each, with two sureties owning property in the Maitama District of Abuja. The judge ordered the defendants to remain in custody until they meet their bail conditions.
Additionally, the court directed all defendants to surrender their international passports to the Court Registrar. The 2nd and 3rd defendants were also restricted from traveling outside the court’s jurisdiction without prior approval.
Yahaya Bello remains in Kuje Correctional Centre as the court awaits his formal bail application hearing in January.
