Court Remands Bello in Kuje Correctional Centre, Trial to Commence on January 29

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Maryanne Anenih of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered the remand of a former Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, at the Kuje Correctional Center, in Abuja, pending the commencement of trial, fixed for January 29, next year.

The judge made the order shortly after it turned down Bello’s bail application for being premature.

The former governor has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), since November 26, when he surrendered himself to the Commission.

Justice Anenih, had last month adjourned to Tuesday, December 10, for ruling in Bello’s bail application.

Delivering ruling yesterday, the court refused the application on the grounds that the application was premature, having been filed when the former governor was neither in custody nor before the court.

Citing sections of the administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the judge stated that an application for bail could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.

Bello had filed an application for his bail on November 22, but was taken into custody on November 26, and arraigned on November 27.

“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” Justice Anenih declared.

Bello is standing trial, alongside two others, in an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC.

The two others sued as 2nd and 3rd defendants are Umar Oricha and AbdulSalami Hudu.

They were arraigned on November 27, on a 16 count charge, a day after Bello submitted himself to the anti-graft agency, over corruption allegations.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the 16 count charge, following which their team of lawyers led by Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, moved their bail application.

After taking submissions for and against the grant of the bail applications, the court had adjourned till Tuesday for its verdict.

Delivering ruling, Justice Anenih observed that, “Before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on November 22. The 1st Defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.

“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”

The judge also recalled that the defendant’s counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail, and urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously.

But the EFCC through its lawyer, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had objected to the grant of the application, arguing that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.

“The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on November 22. This shows that it was filed several days before the 1st defendant was taken into custody,” the court held and subsequently declined to grant the application.

Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of N300 million each. As part of the bail conditions, they are to provide two sureties, “who shall have property in the Maitama District of the FCT, within the jurisdiction of the court.

They shall also not travel outside without the leave of the court and shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the perfection of their bail.

The judge said each surety must enter into a bond for not more than one defendant, while the defendants were directed to deposit their international passports with the court’s registrar.

Meanwhile, trial is to begin on January 29, next year.