The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.
The trial judge, Maryann Anenih, adjourned the case involving alleged N110 billion money laundering to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27.
Judge Anenih declined Bello’s bail application, stating that it was filed prematurely. “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,” Anenih explained. Bello was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 26 and arraigned the following day. However, his bail application was submitted on November 22, four days before his arrest.
Bello, alongside co-defendants Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, was arraigned on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering. All defendants pleaded not guilty.
While Bello’s bail request was denied, his co-defendants were granted bail under specific conditions. The court granted Oricha and Hudu N300 million bail each, requiring two sureties who own properties in the Maitama district of Abuja. The judge stipulated that each surety must enter a bond for one defendant and directed the defendants to deposit their passports with the court registrar.