Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Wednesday remanded former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and two other co-defendants in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. till December 10, 2024.
Mr. Bello had earlier pleaded not guilty to 16-count charges of stealing public funds brought against him by the EFCC, and thereafter ought bail through his lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN.
The judge also adjourned till December 10 to rule on his bail application..
The Judge fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the bail request by Bello’s lawyer and Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Daudu had asked 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 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.
The Judge ordered that the three defendants should remain in EFCC custody until the rulings are delivered.
Co-defendants Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC.
cpcnews.org 