Yahaya Bello: Court remands Kogi Ex-Gov. over alleged N110b fraud

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has ordered the immediate remand of Yahaya Bello, at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

As gathered by the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the decision came as the court awaits Bello’s bail application.

According to the ruling, Bello will likely remain in custody until January 29, when the court has scheduled further proceedings for the ongoing criminal case against him.

Bello faces charges of allegedly laundering N110 billion alongside two co-defendants.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Yahaya Bello on November 27.

On Tuesday, Justice Maryanne Anenih scrutinized Bello’s bail application and found it lacking in merit.

She declared it was not properly filed, stating it was submitted prematurely.

According to the judge, the application was rendered incompetent because it had been filed before Bello was taken into custody or presented to the court.

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

Earlier on November 22, Bello’s legal team filed the bail application, prior to his arrest on November 26 and subsequent arraignment on November 27.

However, the judge granted bail to Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

Both men received bail set at N300 million, with the condition of providing two sureties who possess equivalent property within the court’s jurisdiction.

After the rulings, Justice Anenih adjourned the case, pushing proceedings forward to January 29, 2025.

According to a report, Bello’s legal representatives are now considering their options.

If the court grants the request, and the new bail application is successful, Bello might not face spending the holiday season in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Earlier development on Yahaya Bello’s case

On Wednesday, November 27, the EFCC arraigned former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.

He appeared before Justice Maryanne Anenih at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Alongside him were co-defendants Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The three defendants faced a total of 16 charges related to money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

The alleged amount involved in these charges totals N110.4 billion.

Count eleven of the charge’s states that Yahaya Bello, Oricha, and Hudu, in 2022, misused funds while controlling the state’s treasury.

They allegedly used a total of 5,698,888 Dirhams to acquire a property at Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Count sixteen accuses Bello of unlawfully obtaining N677,848,000 from Bespoke Business Solution Limited between 2017 and 2018.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.

After their pleas, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness to proceed with the trial.

However, Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing Yahaya Bello and Oricha, filed a bail application for his clients.

He argued that the application was legitimate and necessary.

The EFCC also opposed bail for Oricha, who remains in government service.

Pinheiro noted that Oricha is still the Director General at the Government House, which is implicated in the case.

Justice Anenih ordered that all defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.

She adjourned the hearing of the bail applications to December 10, 2024.

Know about Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Adoza Bello, born on June 18, 1975, is a Nigerian businessman and politician.

He served as Kogi State’s governor from 2016 to 2024.

A member of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Bello was the youngest governor in Nigeria.

He studied accounting and business administration at Ahmadu Bello University.

Bello entered politics after losing the 2015 APC gubernatorial primary.

He later replaced the deceased Abubakar Audu as the party’s candidate and won the governorship election.

His tenure faced accusations of violence and fraud during the 2019 election.

Bello has garnered attention for his youth and controversial statements.

He also enjoys sports, especially boxing.

His political ambitions continued with plans for the 2023 presidential elections.

However, on September 14, 2020, the U.S. placed him on a visa ban list.

He faced accusations of electoral fraud and inciting violence during gubernatorial elections.

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