Alleged N110bn Fraud: Yahaya Bello In Custody Till December 10

By Adesina Soyooye

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has been condemned to the custody of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, till December 10, 2024.

That was the ruling of the Honourable Justice Maryann Anenih who fixed the date to decide on the request for Bello by his Lawyer.

When Bello arraigned by the EFCC on Wednesday, after he surrendered to the Commission on Tuesday, he and along with his two co-defendants, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts of fraud preferred against them by the EFCC.

When the charges were read out to Bello, first defendant, he vehemently denied them one after the other.

As soon as Bello was through with his plea, his lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN filed a bail application.

But Lawyer to the  EFCC, Kemi  Pinheiro, objected to that and insisted that the bail application for the accused expired in October.

But it was an objection

Daudu rejected and told the Court that the only relevant bail application before it  was  the one he filed on Bello’s behalf on November 22  which he explained waa supported by an affidavit and a written address.

He pointed out the significance of “Exhibit A,” the public summons, and insisted that his client’s appearance in court confirmed his respect for the law.

The EFCC Lawyer told the Court that the Commission was ready to go on with the trial of Bello and co and called the Commission’s immediately first witness. But Daudu asked for  more time. He  explained that he had received the charges against Bello at 11 pm on November 26,  and so  needed more time to prepare.

While arguing for  bail, Daudu pointed out that Bello, as a defendant, was entitled to his freedom until found guilty.

He also argued that the EFCC’s objection to the bail was a product of issues from another court and, therefore, should not affect the case before the FCT High Court.

But the EFCC disagreed with Daudu’s argument, and posited that its objection was a product of three grounds: the competence of the application, the factual content, and adherence to judicial principles.

In adjourning the court fixed the matter of bail application on December 10 for a ruling.

The defendant was, therefore ordered to remain in EFCC custody.

The other accused – Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – had been enjoying the administrative bail granted them by the EFCC.