A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in Kuje prison.
Justice Maryann Anenih gave the remand order after adjourning the trial of the defendant to 25 February 2025.
The decision followed the court’s dismissal of a bail application filed by Bello, who has been in detention since 25 November 2024.
Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2024, is facing a 16-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully acquired property. Two other defendants, Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, both officials of the Kogi State government, were also arraigned.
In a ruling, Justice Anenih described Bello’s bail application, filed on 22 November before his surrender, as “premature and incompetent.”
She stated: “A bail application is filed to challenge the detention of a defendant. Filing such an application before being in custody is premature. Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”
However, the court granted bail to the second and third defendants in the sum of ₦300 million each, with two sureties in like sum. Their travel documents were also seized as part of the bail conditions.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges on 27 November.
The EFCC, led by Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed Bello’s bail, arguing that he repeatedly refused to attend court proceedings in another case at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The commission also alleged that Bello misappropriated Kogi State funds to acquire properties worth billions of naira, including high-value assets in Abuja and Dubai.
The case, marked CR/7781, continues in February 2025.
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