A HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has ordered the remand of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending his bail application.
By the court’s ruling, Bello may remain in prison till January 29 when the court adjourned further proceedings in the criminal case involving him.
Bello is standing trial, along with two others, in an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In an earlier ruling on Tuesday, Justice Maryanne Anenih faulted the competence of Bello’s bail application and held that it was filed prematurely.
Justice Anenih held that the application, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, his application was incompetent.
She said: “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely is hereby refused.”
Bello’s bail application was filed on November 22 before he was arrested on November 26 and arraigned on November 27.
In two other rulings, Justice Anenih granted bail to each of the two Bello’s co-defendants – Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – at N300m with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must have property worth the said amount within the court’s jurisdiction.
She then adjourned further proceedings till January 29 next year.
It was learnt that Bello’s lawyers could file a fresh bail application and apply to the court for an early hearing date.
If the request for an early date is granted by the court and the fresh bail application granted, Bello could escape spending the yuletide period in Kuje correctional centre.
