BREAKING: Court Denies Yahaya Bello Bail

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, has denied former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in an alleged N110bn money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Maryann Anenih, in a ruling on Tuesday, dismissed his bail application because it was filed prematurely.

According to the judge, the case was filed when the defendant was neither in custody nor before the court.

“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.

Bello was finally arraigned on November 27 alongside his co-defendants, Oricha and Hudu, following his arrest by the EFCC on November 26 on a 16-count charge related to money laundering, fraud, and misappropriation of funds during his tenure.

However, Bello and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had moved the application for bail on behalf of his clients.

Daudu argued that the only relevant bail application before the court was the one filed on November 22 for the first defendant (Bello), which he relied upon and supported with a written address.

“Exhibit A, which is the public summons is very vital and the appearance of the defendant in court today, shows he has respect for the law,” he had said

The senior lawyer noted that a defendant, in line with the law, is innocent until proven guilty.

“It is within his rights to enjoy his liberty while preparing for trial, Daudu said.

But the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, had argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent having been filed before arraignment.

Delivering her ruling, Justice Anenih said “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on 22nd of November. This shows that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”

Reading from the ACJA, the judge said the provision provided that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.

BREAKING: Court Denies Yahaya Bello Bail is first published on The Whistler Newspaper