The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday turns down bail request of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello’s court case, due to mistakes on how the application was submitted.
Why governor Bello was detained
Bello, along with two others, is being accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of involvement in a suspected N110 billion money laundering case.
Reasons why court denies Yahaya Bello’s bail
Justice Maryanne Anenih rejected the bail application, stating it was filed too early. She explained that the application was invalid because it was submitted before Bello appeared in court or was taken into custody. The judge said, “Since the first defendant was not in custody or before the court when the application was filed, it is not valid. Therefore, the premature application is denied.
Furthermore, the court pointed out that the bail application, dated November 22, was submitted before Bello’s arraignment on November 27. This was also after he was taken into custody on November 26.
Bello’s lawyer, Jacob Daudu (SAN), asked the court to review the application, arguing that his client, a two-term governor of Kogi State, would not try to influence witnesses or flee while on bail.
Daudu argued, “The first defendant learned about the charges through the public summons. He is a responsible person and will follow the conditions set by the court.”
However, EFCC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) disagreed, arguing that the application was completely invalid because it was filed before the arraignment, which goes against the rules of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Pinheiro stressed that the timing made the application invalid and urged the court to reject it.
Meanwhile, the second defendant, Umar Oricha, was granted bail of N300 million with two sureties.
The court stated that the sureties must own property in Abuja’s Maitama district worth at least the value of the bail bond and provide the original title documents to the court.
Justice Anenih also ordered that the sureties must swear to affidavits showing their financial ability and submit copies of their international passports to the court.
Oricha must hand over his travel documents to the court and stay in custody until all bail conditions are met.
