Newscenter Media News Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Abuja High Court, on Tuesday, rejected a bail application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The court’s ruling which cited procedural irregularities in the filing of the application, means Bello will remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimea Commission (EFCC).
Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling, stated that the application was premature as it was filed before Bello was present in court or in custody.
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).
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Recall that, on November 27, Bello after several months of back and forth, appeared in court for his arraignment.
The EFCC in a suit marked: CR/7781/2024, had accused Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, of spending over N110 billion of public funds to acquire several properties in Abuja and Dubai.
The suit dated September 24 but filed on September 25, by the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), accused the defendants of criminal breach of trust, an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
However, Justice Anenih, in a ruling on Tuesday, 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, was incompetent.
“Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.
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