Court remands Yahaya Bello in prison

Post created on 4:35 pm

The federal capital territory (FCT) high court has remanded Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, in Kuje correctional centre pending hearing on his bail application.

Maryann Anenih, the trial judge, adjourned the N110 billion alleged money laundering case to January 29 and 30; and February 25 and 27.

Earlier, the trial judge declined Bello’s bail request on the basis that the application was filed prematurely.

Anenih averred that the bail application was filed before the ex-governor was taken into custody.

Anenih said the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025 provide that bail applications could be tendered when a defendant has been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court.

Bello was arrested by the EFCC on November 26 and arraigned the next day. However, his bail application was filed on November 22 — four days before his arrest.

Bello and his co-defendants —Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu — were arraigned on November 26 before the FCT court on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.

They had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

(THECABLE)