On Wednesday, Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja ordered the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge adjourned the case until December 10, 2024, to rule on his bail application.
Bello, along with two co-defendants, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, is facing 16 charges brought by the EFCC. They are accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
The court set the date for the bail ruling after hearing arguments from Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, and the prosecution’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro. The defendants had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Bello, who had been scheduled for arraignment since April, presented himself to the EFCC on Tuesday. Before appearing before Justice Anenih for the N110.4 billion charge, Bello was also set to face a separate N84 billion charge before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court.
On Wednesday, after the defendants pleaded not guilty, Bello’s counsel, Daudu, moved for bail, but EFCC counsel Pinheiro opposed the application, arguing it had expired in October. Daudu clarified that the current bail motion was filed on November 22 and supported by a written address.
Daudu stressed that Bello had shown respect for the law by appearing in court, and he emphasized the principle that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. He also argued that issues raised in the EFCC’s counter affidavit were related to a matter at the Federal High Court and should not affect proceedings at the FCT High Court. He asserted that Bello had the right to liberty while preparing for trial.
EFCC counsel Pinheiro countered, objecting to the application on three grounds: the competence of the application, the factual content, and the application of judicial principles. After a brief recess, Pinheiro further argued against bail for the second defendant, Oricha, stating that as a serving government official, there was a risk he might commit the same offense.
Daudu disagreed, pointing out that the prosecution’s affidavit used the term “may,” which did not prove that the second defendant had committed another offense after being granted bail. He urged the court to grant bail, noting that the EFCC’s counter-affidavit lacked merit.
Justice Anenih adjourned the ruling on the bail application to December 10 and ordered that the three defendants remain in EFCC custody. Meanwhile, Oricha and Hudu had been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
The charges against the defendants include misuse of state funds to acquire properties such as No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million); No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million); and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million), among others. They are also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the U.S. and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
