A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has denied bail to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, over allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering totaling N110.4 billion.
Justice Maryann Anineh refused the bail application on grounds of prematurity, stating it was filed before Bello’s arrest and arraignment.
Bello, who is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), faces a 16-count charge. Justice Anineh noted that Bello’s bail application, submitted on November 22, 2024, was filed before his arrest on November 26 and arraignment on November 27, rendering it incompetent. She clarified that bail applications are only valid after a defendant’s arraignment.
The court granted bail to Bello’s co-defendants under stringent conditions.
Oricha was granted bail in the sum of N300 million, with two sureties who must own landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction.
The title documents of the properties, alongside his travel documents, must be deposited with the court registrar. Similarly, Hudu was granted bail under the same financial conditions, with the additional requirement that his sureties own properties in Maitama, Abuja.
Both defendants are required to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until their bail conditions are met.
Meanwhile, Justice Anineh ordered that Bello remain in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The trial dates were set for January 29, February 25, and February 27, 2025, following a request by EFCC prosecution counsel Chukwudi Enedini, SAN.
This development comes amid heightened attention on the case, as the EFCC intensifies its efforts to address allegations of large-scale financial crimes.
Further proceedings will reveal more about the alleged mismanagement of public funds attributed to the defendants.
