The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, on Wednesday, remanded the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Trial Justice Maryann Anenih ordered that he should remain with the anti-graft agency till December 10 when the court will rule on his application for bail.
Equally remanded in custody were Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the EFCC preferred against them.
EFCC had specifically urged the court to deny the former governor bail.
The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.
The lawyer told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.
Consequently, the Commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.
EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.
Ex-governor Bello and his co-defendants are facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110billion fraud.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
More so, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
The defendants pleaded their innocence to the charge after it was read to them before trial Justice Maryann Anenih.
