From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Maryann Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, refused to grant bail to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on the grounds that his bail application was filed prematurely and intended to preempt the course of justice.
The Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated on Tuesday that Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.
Delivering a ruling on Bello’s bail application, the judge held that the application, filed on 22 November 2024, was incompetent as it predated his arrest by the EFCC on 26 November and his arraignment on 27 November, clarifying that a bail application only becomes ripe for hearing after the defendant’s arraignment.
“Having been filed when the first defendant was neither in custody nor before the court, this application is premature and hereby refused,” she said. On the other hand, Bello’s co-defendants were admitted to bail. Oricha was granted bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties,” the judge held, “must be Nigerian citizens with landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction. The title documents of the lands, as well as his passport, must be deposited with the court registrar, and he will have to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until he meets the bail conditions.”
“Hudu’s bail was on the same financial terms. His sureties must own properties in Maitama, Abuja, and must depose affidavits of means, submit two recent passport photographs, and provide their travel documents to the court.
“He was barred from travelling outside the country without the instruction of the court and will remain in the custody of Kuje Correctional Centre until he fulfils his bail conditions.
“Following the ruling, prosecution counsel Chukwudi Enedini, SAN, prayed the court for a trial date. Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to 29 January, 25 February, and 27 February 2025 and ordered that Bello be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre,” the statement read in part.