By Miracle Ogunde
The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the N110 billion money laundering case against Yahaya Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27, 2027.
However, the court remanded him in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Maryann Anenih, in her ruling on Tuesday, refused to grant the bail application filed by the former governor, stating that it was filed prematurely.
While delivering the ruling, Justice Anenih said the application was incompetent as it was filed when the first defendant, Bello, was neither in custody nor before the court.
“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.
The former governor is standing trial along with two others over an alleged N110 billion money laundering charge brought against them by the EFCC.
Recalling the arguments presented before the court on the bail application, the judge said, “Before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on 22nd November. The first defendant (Bello) 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 noted that the defendant’s counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, had argued that sufficient facts had been presented to warrant the grant of bail.
Daudu urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously in granting the bail.
In opposing the motion, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.
He contended that it should only be filed after arraignment. However, Bello’s counsel disagreed, stating there was no authority stipulating that an application could only be filed when it was ripe for hearing.
While delivering her ruling, Justice Maryann Anenih said, “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on the 22nd of November.
“This shows that it was filed several days after the first defendant was taken into custody.”
Citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the judge stated that the law allowed for an application for bail to be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court.
Bello had filed an application for bail on 22nd November 2024 but was taken into custody on 26th November 2024 and arraigned on 27th November 2024.
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