Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has fixed December 10 for ruling in the bail applications by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and two others.
The judge subsequently ordered that the three defendants be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till ruling on their bail applications.
This followed their arraignment on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust.
The Judge fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the bail request by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN, and Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Daudu had pleaded with the court to admit the former governor to bail on various grounds.
Among others, the senior lawyer said that the law presumes him innocent until contrary is established by the anti-graft agency.
Daudu also submitted that Bello was not a flight risk as he had not travelled out of the country for the past seven years.
He also said that the former governor would not interfere with witnesses and exhibits since EFCC had already completed the investigation and filed charges against the defendants.
However, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued otherwise, adding that Bello may likely interfere with the witnesses and exhibits.
Justice Maryann Anenih thereafter announced that she would make her decision known on December 10.
Recall that Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2024 was taken to custody after presenting himself to the EFCC on Tuesday.
He was brought to Court to face charges of criminal breach of trust and other related offences.
Yahaya Bello, alongside two others; Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, is facing a trial in a case marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, which involves allegations of financial mismanagement totalling N110,446,470,089.
Before his arraignment on Wednesday, Justice Maryann E. Anenih of the FCT High Court had issued a summons on Yahaya Bello, ordering the former governor to appear in court for trial in the alleged N110 billion fraud preferred against him.
