Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has scheduled December 10 for a ruling on the bail applications of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and two other co-defendants.
The decision comes after both sides presented their arguments in court regarding the bail request.
Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN, argued that the law presumes the former governor innocent until proven guilty by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dauda also emphasized that Bello was not a flight risk, citing that he had not left the country in the past seven years.
Furthermore, Dauda assured the court that the former governor would not interfere with witnesses or evidence, as the EFCC had already completed its investigation and filed charges.
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, countered that Bello might attempt to interfere with witnesses and evidence.
Justice Anenih has instructed that the three defendants remain in EFCC custody until the court delivers its ruling. Meanwhile, co-defendants Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were granted administrative bail by the EFCC, while Bello made his first court appearance.
