The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has refused the bail application of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, citing procedural errors in its filing.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Maryann Anenih, the trial judge, stated that the application was filed prematurely.
According to Anenih, the bail request was submitted before Bello was taken into custody, rendering it invalid at the time of filing.
Bello, along with his co-defendants, Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, faces a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering. The trio was arraigned on November 27 before the FCT High Court.
The charges stem from allegations of financial mismanagement during Bello’s tenure as governor, with the prosecution accusing the defendants of illegally laundering significant sums of money.
Further hearings are expected in the coming weeks.
Chioma Kalu
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