A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail application of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, citing procedural errors in its filing.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih declared the application premature as it was submitted before Bello was present in court or in custody.
“Having not been filed when the first defendant was either in custody or before the court, this instant application is incompetent. Consequently, the application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused,” Justice Anenih stated.
Bello, alongside two others, is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N110 billion money laundering case.
The court observed that the bail application, dated November 22, was submitted before Bello’s arraignment on November 27. He had been taken into custody on November 26.
Counsel to Bello, Jacob Daudu (SAN), pleaded with the court to consider the application, assuring that his client, a two-term governor of Kogi State, would not interfere with witnesses or abscond.
“The first defendant became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. He is a responsible individual and will abide by the conditions set by the court,” Daudu argued.
However, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) countered, stating that the application violated the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as it was filed before the arraignment. Pinheiro urged the court to dismiss it, describing it as grossly incompetent.
Meanwhile, the court granted bail to the second defendant, Umar Oricha, on stringent conditions. Oricha was granted bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties.
The court specified that the sureties must own properties in Abuja’s Maitama district valued at or above the bail amount and submit the original title documents to the court. Additionally, the sureties must depose to affidavits of means and provide copies of their international passports.
Oricha is required to surrender his travel documents to the court and will remain in custody until all bail conditions are met.
(Newswatch Plus)
