ABUJA, Nigeria — Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, will remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, until December 10, 2024, following the Federal Capital Territory High Court’s adjournment of his bail application ruling.
Bello, alongside two co-defendants, is facing 16-count charges of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust over allegations of diverting N110 billion in state funds during his tenure as governor.
During the plea hearing on Monday, November 25, 2024, Bello pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include claims of embezzlement for personal luxury properties and overseas investments.
Joseph Dauda, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), representing Bello, submitted a motion for bail, citing his client’s respect for legal proceedings and attendance in court.
The EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the motion, arguing that the earlier October application for bail had expired.
However, Dauda countered that a new application had been filed on November 22.
“We have complied with all legal requirements, and our client has shown commitment to the judicial process,” Dauda stated, urging the court to consider the fresh application.
Pinheiro, however, pushed for an immediate trial, highlighting the severity of the charges and Bello’s prior attempts to evade arrest in April and September.
The defense argued for more time to prepare, noting that they had only received the full charges the evening before the hearing.
EFCC Alleges Lavish Misuse of State Funds
The EFCC’s case against Bello details accusations of siphoning public funds to acquire luxury homes and high-value international assets, raising concerns about the misuse of state resources under his administration.
The court also ruled on the status of the two other defendants, Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who were placed on administrative bail while awaiting further proceedings.
Previous Evasion Complicates Defence
Bello’s legal challenges have been compounded by his history of evading EFCC custody earlier in the year, only surrendering to the commission in November.
This history has raised concerns about his potential flight risk, a key issue for the prosecution in opposing his bail request.
The court is scheduled to deliberate further on Bello’s case on December 10, where the decision on his bail application will be determined.
