The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the hearing of his bail application.
Judge Maryann Anenih adjourned the case, which involves alleged money laundering amounting to N110 billion, to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27.
Bello’s bail application was rejected as it was deemed premature. The judge clarified that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025, bail applications can only be submitted after an arrest, detention, arraignment, or when a defendant appears before the court.
Bello was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 26 and arraigned the following day, but his bail request had been filed on November 22, four days before his arrest.
Bello, along with co-defendants Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, faces a 16-count charge of money laundering, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
While Bello’s bail was denied, his co-defendants were granted bail under specific conditions. Oricha and Hudu were each granted N300 million bail, with two sureties who must own property in the Maitama district of Abuja. The court also ordered the defendants to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
