Delivering the ruling, Justice Anineh described Bello’s bail application as procedurally flawed. The application, filed on November 22, 2024, was submitted before his arrest on November 26 and arraignment on November 27. The court ruled that the application was “premature” as a bail request can only be heard after a defendant’s arraignment.
“Having been filed when the first defendant was neither in custody nor before the court, this application is premature and hereby refused,” Justice Anineh stated.
While denying Bello’s bail, the court granted bail to his co-defendants, Oricha and Hudu, under stringent conditions. Oricha’s bail was set at N300 million with two sureties who must be Nigerian citizens owning landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. The sureties are required to deposit title documents with the court, along with Oricha’s travel documents. Until the bail conditions are met, Oricha will remain in the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Hudu’s bail terms mirrored those of Oricha, requiring two sureties owning properties specifically in Maitama, Abuja. The sureties must depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs along with Hudu’s travel documents. Like Oricha, Hudu must remain in custody until the conditions are fulfilled. Both defendants were barred from traveling outside the country without court approval.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel Chukwudi Enedini, SAN, requested the court to set dates for trial. Justice Anineh scheduled the matter for January 29, February 25, and February 27, 2025, and ordered that Bello remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The charges against Bello and his co-defendants stem from an EFCC investigation into the alleged mismanagement of public funds during Bello’s tenure as governor of Kogi State. The case has attracted widespread attention due to the significant amount involved and the prominence of the accused.
The EFCC has vowed to pursue the matter vigorously, describing the allegations as part of a broader effort to hold public officials accountable for financial misconduct. The court’s decision to deny bail to Bello signals a firm stance on procedural compliance and may shape the trajectory of the high-profile case as it unfolds in the coming months.
