You cant accede to his request – EFCC opposes bail for Yahaya Bello cites reasons – Crime Channels
You cant accede to his request – EFCC opposes bail for Yahaya Bello cites reasons
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama deny bail to Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, who is facing multiple corruption charges.
Represented by a team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, the EFCC opposed the bail application filed by Bello’s legal team, headed by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.
The EFCC argued that Bello, who is also facing another corruption case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, had repeatedly failed to make himself available for trial.
The application was filed after Bello, alongside his co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge brought against them by the anti-graft agency.
In the bail application, filed on November 22, Bello’s legal team cited six grounds, including the presumption of innocence, arguing that the former governor should be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
Bello’s lawyers further claimed that granting bail would allow him to prepare his defense, asserting that he had only received a copy of the charges on the night of November 26.
His legal team emphasized that his attendance in court was in compliance with a summons issued against him.
In response, the EFCC highlighted that several witnesses were available to testify in the case, urging the court to allow the anti-graft agency to begin presenting its case.
This request was opposed by the defense.
The EFCC also argued that Bello’s bail application was procedurally flawed, as it was filed before the defendants were formally arraigned before the court.
EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted, “This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.
“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.
“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail.”
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and his co-defendants are currently on trial for their alleged involvement in a N110 billion fraud case.
The charges, outlined in case CR/7781, include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
The EFCC has accused the ex-governor of misappropriating state funds to acquire multiple high-value properties. These include a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, valued at N950 million, another at No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja, worth N100 million, and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, priced at N920 million.
Additionally, the defendants are alleged to have used funds stolen from Kogi’s treasury to purchase other properties, including Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), a hotel apartment in the Burj Khalifa, Dubai (worth 5,698,888 Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Further accusations include transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the United States, as well as possessing N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited, which the EFCC claims was unlawfully obtained.
The defendants, including Bello, have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were formally read to them in court before Justice Maryann Anenih.
