•Former Governor Yahaya Bello
Justice Maryann of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has remanded the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending his bail application.
Justice Anenih also adjourned the hearing in the N110 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to January 29, 30, and February 25 and 27 for hearing, reports Channels TV.
The judge had earlier refused to grant a bail application filed by the former governor, saying it was filed prematurely.
Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling today, said that having been filed when he was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.
The former governor is standing trial, along with two others, in an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In the earlier arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “Before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on 22nd November.
“The 1st defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”
She said the defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.
In opposing, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), had argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.
He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but the 1st Defendant’s Counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Anenih said the instant application for bail showed that it was filed on November 22. This shows that it was filed several days after Mister Bello was taken into custody.
Reading from the ACJa section, the judge said the provision provided that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court.
Bello had filed an application for his bail on November 22 but was taken into custody on November 26 and arraigned on November 27.
The 2nd defendant, Umar Oricha, was, however, granted N300 million bail, with two sureties, “who shall have property in the Maitama District of the FCT, within the jurisdiction of the court.
“He shall not travel outside without the leave of the Court and shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.”
The 3rd defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu, was also granted N300 million bail with the same conditions as the 2nd defendant.
The judge, however, said that each surety must enter into a bond for not more than one defendant, while the defendants were directed to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
