Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, has been detained since November 25 and was denied bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Tuesday.
In a decision made by Justice Maryann Anenih, the court deemed the former governor’s bid to be released on bail while the charge against him was being decided to be premature and incompetent.
Bello submitted the bail application before turning himself in to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the court observed.
Justice Anenih questioned why the former governor submitted his motion when he was not in custody, emphasising that a bail application is submitted to contest a defendant’s detention.
She concluded that Bello’s action implied that he had made an early attempt to claim the court’s jurisdiction.
However, the court allowed Umar Oricha, the second defendant in the case, to post N300 million bond with two sureties of the same amount.
The third defendant in the case has not yet had their fate decided by Justice Anenih.
Bello, who oversaw Kogi State’s operations from 2016 until 2024, is on trial for allegedly participating in a N110 billion scam.
