Court Sends Yahaya Bello to Kuje Prison on N110 Billion Fraud Charges

A High Court in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja until his next bail hearing.

Bello, charged with an alleged N110 billion money laundering offense by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will remain in custody until at least January 29, when the court resumes proceedings.

Justice Maryanne Anenih, presiding over the case, dismissed Bello’s initial bail application on grounds of being premature.

The application was filed on November 22, before Bello’s arrest on November 26 and his subsequent arraignment on November 27.

Justice Anenih ruled that since Bello was neither in custody nor present in court at the time of application, the request was not valid.

On the same day, Justice Anenih granted bail to Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, setting bail at N300 million each with two sureties who must own property of equivalent value within the court’s jurisdiction.

The proceedings have been adjourned to January 29, but Bello’s legal team is expected to submit a new bail application and may request an earlier hearing date.

If granted, this could potentially prevent Bello from spending the Christmas period in detention.

More details will follow as the case develops.