Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, remanded former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge further directed that Bello should remain with the EFCC till December 10 when she will rule on his application for bail.
Justice Anenih also remanded Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu in EFCC custody.
The EFCC had brought Bello and two other defendants to court on Friday morning and preferred a 16-count charge of alleged N110billion fraud against them.
But when the charge was read to Bello and the other defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The prosecuting EFCC lawyers by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) later informed the court that Bello had repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.
Pinheiro further informed the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.
The Senior Advocate therefore opposed a bail application filed through Bello’s legal team led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN).
The former NBA President had after Bello and other defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge, drew the attention of the court to his client’s bail application filed on November 22.
In the bail application anchored on six grounds, Daudu argued that Bello enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.
In the bail application anchored on six grounds, Daudu argued that Bello enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.
The Senior Advocate also argued that his client ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established.
Daudu contended that granting his client bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.
The Senior Advocate told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, saying that the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued to him.
Daudu also urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.
Pinheiro later informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter were available and urged the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately.
But Daudu opposed the application on the grounds that his client’s liberty is crucial, saying that he needs his freedom to prepare for his defence.
But Pinheiro countered Daudu’s argument, saying that Bello’s bail application and that of the two defendants were incompetent on the grounds that they were filed before they were arraigned in court.
He said, “This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.
He said, “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,”.
“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,”.
Having listened to the arguments by the parties, Justice Anenih adjourned the matter till June 10 for her ruling on the bail application and remanded Bello and the defendants in the EFCC custody.
