The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has refused to grant bail to former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello.
Justice Maryanne Anenih struck out Bello’s bail application on the ground that it was filed as of the time the former governor was yet to be taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The application was filed on November 22 while the former governor was taken into custody by the anti-graft agency on November 26 and arraigned on November 27.
On November 27, the former governor was arraigned before Justice Anenih-led court.
“Why was the application filed when the 1st defendant was not in custody. The implication of this is the jurisdiction of the court was invoked too early,” the judge said.
Having been filed when the circumstances were not present the instant application was prematurely filed.
The court therefore agreed with the prosecution that the motion was incompetent.
“The motion for bail filed by the 1st defendant is accordingly struck out,” the court ruled.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Dr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had vehemently countered the bail application, citing the antics of the former governor who has been running from pillar to post.
Yahaya Bello had earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the 16 counts charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court.
ALSO READ:Court Remands Yahaya Bello, Others In EFCC’s Custody, Adjourns Bail Ruling To December 10
His case had been adjourned to December 10 for the reading of his bail application. He was to remain with the EFCC.
Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2023, faces charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office.
Metrobusinessnews.com had last month reported that the EFCC had filed fresh charges against former governor, Bello, accusing him of N110 billion fraud.
The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
In the fresh charges dated September 25, the total amount involved is N110,446,470,89.00.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had dismissed the oral bail applications of Abdulsalam Hudu and Umar Oricho, who are co-defendants of Yahaya Bello in the N110.4billion fraud case preferred again them by the EFCC.
