Ex Kogi governor Yahaha Bello spends second night in jail as EFCC remands him till December,10
Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge also adjourned till December 10, 2024, to rule on his bail application.
Bello and two others, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu are facing 16 counts brought against them by the EFCC.
The former Kogi State Governor and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts preferred against them by the EFCC over alleged fraud and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.
The trio were arraigned before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, in a charge marked CR/7781.
The defendants were also accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Bello, who had been billed for arraignment since April 2024, finally presented himself on Tuesday to the EFCC.
After the charge was read out to him, Bello — the first defendant in the suit, denied all the allegations.
After the defendants took their plea, Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu moved a bail application which the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed, saying it had expired in October.
The defence counsel, however, clarified saying: “The only relevant application before the court is the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant (Bello) which was filed on November 22.”
Stating that he would be relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application is also supported by a written address.
“My Lord, the bail application is also 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,” Bello’s counsel argued.
He noted that the law in the country states that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty.
