The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja has denied bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, standing trial over corruption, money laundry, and abuse of office.
Justice Maryann Anenih, while delivering the ruling said the application for bail was filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the Court, and therefore rendered it incompetent.
The bail application was filed on November 22, 2024, while Yahaya Bello was arraigned for the first time on November 27, 2024.
According to Justice Anenih, the early bail application implies that the jurisdiction of the Court was invoked too early.
The trial Judge however granted bail to Umar Oricha, the second defendant, in the sum of N300 million, with 2 sureties in like sum.
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The sureties must be owners of properties in Maitama valued at not less than the bail bond sum. Sureties must equally deposit the original title document in court and must depose to affidavit of means to that effect, and they must deposit copies of their international Passports.
The Court ordered the second defendant to deposit his travel documents to the Registrar of the Court and be remanded in Correctional custody pending fulfillment of the bail conditions.
More details later.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
