A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama (FCT) has ruled that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending his bail application.
By the ruling, the former governor may be cooling off in prison, as he awaits January 29 when the court adjourned further proceedings in the criminal case involving him.
Bello is standing trial for an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him and two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the Tuesday ruling, the presiding judge, Maryanne Anenih pinpointed the incompetence of Bello’s bail application, holding that it was filed prematurely because it was filed when he (Bello) was neither in custody nor before the court, his application was incompetent.
“Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she noted.
Bello’s bail application was filed on November 22 before he was arrested on November 26 and arraigned on November 27.
Each of the two Bello’s co-defendants – Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – were granted bail at N300m with two sureties in like sum and having property worth the said amount within the court’s jurisdiction, by the judge.
She then adjourned further proceedings till January 29 next year.
It was learnt that Bello’s lawyers could file a fresh bail application and apply to the court for an early hearing date.
If the request for an early date is granted by the court and the fresh bail application granted, Bello could escape spending the yuletide period in Kuje correctional centre.
More details to follow…
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