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.
While Bello’s bail application was declined, his co-defendants were admitted on bail.
The trial judge granted Oricha N300 million bail with two sureties who possess property in the Maitama district of the FCT.
Hudu was also granted N300 million bail with the same conditions as Oricha.
The judge stated that each surety must enter a bond for not more than one defendant.
She directed the defendants to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
