CITIZENS COMPASS –The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has set aside December 10, 2024, to determine the bail applications of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.
The duo will remain in EFCC custody while the court considers their bail applications.
The decision to fix the date came after hearing arguments from both sides. Bello’s counsel, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN, urged the court to grant bail to the former governor. He argued that Bello should be considered innocent until proven otherwise, as per the law.
Dauda also claimed that Bello poses no flight risk, emphasizing that the former governor has not traveled outside the country for seven years. He further assured the court that Bello would not interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence, especially since the EFCC had already completed its investigation and filed charges against the defendants.
On the other hand, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the bail request. Pinheiro argued that granting bail could result in Bello interfering with witnesses and evidence, thereby compromising the case.
After listening to both parties, Justice Anenih announced that the ruling on the bail applications would be delivered on December 10. Meanwhile, she ordered that all three defendants remain in EFCC custody until the court decides.
It is worth noting that two co-defendants, Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC, while this was the first time Bello appeared before the court.
