An Abuja High Court has remanded the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The presiding judge, Justice Maryann Anenih, gave the order after fixing December 10 for ruling in the bail application filed by Bello and two others on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Justice Anenih fixed the date after the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), and the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), presented their arguments for and against the bail application.
Bello and the co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges filed against them by the EFCC.
Bello, who is the first defendant, denied the allegations levelled against him when the counts were read by the court registrar.
After taking their plea, the defence counsel moved an application for bail.
But Pinheiro opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.
Responding, Daudu said the only relevant application before the court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22.
Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.
Pinheiro had moved for trial to commence immediately and was ready to call its first witness.
Daudu argued that he was served the charge at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, adding that he would need time to prepare his client.
On the bail application, he told the court that a defendant, in line with the law, is innocent until proven guilty.
Justice Anenih, thereafter, rose for a short recess.
After the recess, Pinheiro also opposed the bail application for the second defendant, saying since he was still a government official serving as the Director-General at the Kogi State Government House, there was the likelihood of him committing the same offence.
But Daudu argued that the use of “may” in the prosecution’s counter affidavit did not show where the second defendant allegedly committed another offence after being granted bail.
The lawyer insisted that the counter affidavit lacked merit as it did not show that the defendant was a habitual offender.
He urged the court to grant the application for bail.
Justice Anenih, thereafter, adjourned ruling in the bail application until December 10 and directed that the three defendants should remain in EFCC custody.
