VANGUARD
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.
It 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…
