The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been sent to Kuje prison by a federal high court in Abuja
Justice Maryann Anenih on Tuesday issued the remand order after she adjourned the defendant’s trial till February 25, 2025.
Tge remand is till pending his bail application, DAILY GIST reports
Bello, who was Kogi governor from 2016 to 2024, is facing trial over alleged fraud to the tune of N110 billion
He is answering to a 16-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and two officials of the Kogi state government—Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—who were cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.
The erstwhile governor has been in detention since November 25.
The court, in a ruling on Monday, described as premature and incompetent an application he filed to be released on bail.
The court noted that Bello filed the bail application on November 22, about three days before he surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency.
Justice Anenih, who stressed that a bail application is filed to challenge the detention of a defendant, wondered why the former governor filed his motion at a time he was not in custody.
She held that the implication of Bello’s action was that he attempted to invoke the jurisdiction of the court too early.
“Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused,” the trial judge held.
However, the court admitted the 2nd and 3rd defendants to bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in the like sum.
As part of the conditions for their bail, the court seized the travelling documents of the defendants
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