Court Rejects Yahaya Bello’s Bail Application Over Premature Filing

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has rejected a bail application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, deeming it premature. Justice Maryann Anenih ruled that the application was incompetent because it was filed before the defendant was in custody or had appeared before the court.

The bail application was filed on November 22, 2024, before Yahaya Bello’s arrest, which occurred on November 26. He was subsequently arraigned on November 27. Justice Anenih highlighted that the law requires a bail application to be made after a defendant has been arrested, detained, or arraigned. She concluded that since the application was submitted before these actions, it was improperly filed and, therefore, refused.

Bello is facing charges in connection with an alleged N110 billion money laundering case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His defense counsel, JB Daudu SAN, had requested bail, citing that the former governor would not interfere with witnesses or abscond. However, the prosecution, represented by Kemi Pinheiro SAN, argued that the application should have been filed after his arraignment.

In the same case, the second defendant, Umar Oricha, was granted bail with conditions. Oricha’s bail was set at N300 million, with two sureties who must own property in the Maitama District of Abuja. Additionally, Oricha must remain in the Kuje Correctional Centre until he meets the bail conditions and cannot travel outside Nigeria without court approval.