EFCC opposes bail for Bello, remanded in custody till Dec.10
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, strongly opposed the bail application filed by former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, Abuja.
Bello was arrested Tuesday by the anti graft agency after months of playing hide and seek by refusing to appear in court to answer charges against him.
Bello and his co-defendants, however, were docked Wednesday facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110billion fraud.
Meanwhile, the EFCC, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the application by the former governor, who is facing another corruption charge before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, for his repeated refused to make himself available for trial.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Joseph Daudu, SAN, lawyer to Bello, had after the former governor and his two co-defendants – Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu- drew the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on November 22.
In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.
Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello, contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.
His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him, around 11pm on Tuesday, November 26.
He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued on him.
More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.
However, the prosecution counsel countered the argument of the defendant, saying that Bello is flight risk.
Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were arraigned before the court.
“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,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.
The trial judge, Justice Maryann Anenih ordered that Bello and his co-defendants be remanded with the anti-graft agency till December 10, when the court will rule on his application for bail.
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.
