Court Remands Ex-Kogi Gov Bello In Kuje Custodial Centre, Adjourns Hearing to 2025
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Tuesday remanded the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application. Justice Maryann Anenih also adjourned the hearing of the N110 billion money laundering case filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to January 29 and 30, as well as February 25 and 27, 2025.
The court had previously rejected a bail application filed by the former governor, ruling that it was premature since the application had been filed when the defendant was neither in custody nor before the court. Justice Anenih declared the bail request “incompetent,” stating, “Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused.”
Bello, alongside two co-defendants, is facing charges related to an alleged N110 billion money laundering scheme brought against him by the EFCC.
The former governor’s defense had argued that Bello, a two-term governor, should be granted bail, assuring the court that he would not interfere with witnesses or flee if released. His counsel, JB Daudu SAN, contended that the facts presented were sufficient for bail to be granted.
In contrast, the prosecution, represented by Kemi Pinheiro SAN, opposed the bail application, arguing that it was improperly filed before the defendant’s arraignment.
During the proceedings, Justice Anenih clarified that bail applications could only be made once a defendant had been arrested, detained, and arraigned in court. Bello had filed for bail on November 22, but was taken into custody on November 26 and formally arraigned on November 27.
Meanwhile, the two co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—were each granted bail in the amount of N300 million, subject to the condition of providing two sureties with property in the Maitama district of the FCT. Both defendants are also restricted from traveling abroad without court approval and must remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until they meet the bail conditions.
The case has been adjourned for further hearings in 2025, with the next hearing set for January 29.
