Bello now in Kuje prison – CAPITAL POST confirmation

The embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello has been relocated from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detention facility to Kuje Correctional Centre, CAPITAL POST which monitored development in the last 24 hours has confirmed.

Bello who spent eight years as Governor of Kogi State, allegedly embezzled and stole the sum of N110 billion and N80.2 billion including purchase of choice properties in Nigeria and abroad which the documents linking to those assets are in the EFCC’s kitty.

The Justice Maryann Anineh-led Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered that Bello be remanded in Kuje correctional centre from the EFCC custody after his lawyers’ failed bid to bail him from the claws of justice system.

Bello has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since he surrendered himself to the EFCC after he refused Court summon and EFCC invitation for six months.

EFCC contended that Yahaya Bello should not be released as he may intimidate and influence witnesses, but his lawyer argues that as a two-term Governor, he will not influence or bribe EFCC witnesses and further argued the charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

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).

Likewise, 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.

A source in Kuje who spoke with our correspondent explained that the former governor of Kogi State was driven in black pick up vehicle amid tight security in the afternoon of Tuesday, thereby attracted the attention of passerby.

It was not immediately clear the high profile person being taken to prison until 30 minutes later when news filtered in that “it was Yahaya Bello that was taken to prison on the order of the Court.”
Bello’s detention in prison custody, CAPITAL POST learnt might extend till February 25, 2025 when he may be formally arraigned in Court.

In Lokoja, Kogi State capital, there were mixed reactions trailing the detention of the former governor as his fans are not really happy, describing the situation as “incarceration of the while lion.”

A civil servant who craved anonymity told our correspondent that the former governor deserved to face justice system, saying that his eight years in governance was an unmitigated disaster with high level of human casualties as a result of his arrogance and pride.

Another civil servant who identified himself simply as Bako called on Civil Society Organisations, human rights activists and well-meaning individuals to call for prosecution of the former governor of his alleged human right abuse and missing persons during his tenure in office.
However, some of his former aides who are currently serving in the government of Bello’s successor were said to be having concerns over the situation, even as they may not be allowed to visit him in prison.

Reacting on social media, a concerned citizen wrote saying: “Whatever position God gives man, please hold it diligently without reckless stealing because the end will certainly be a disgrace.

Meanwhile CAPITAL POST on Tuesday reported that, Justice Maryann Anenih dismissed Yahaya Bello’s application for bail, saying it’s premature and incompetent for Yahaya Bello to be granted bail as he awaits for face charges against him in Court.

The Court further revealed that Bello filed application for bail even before he surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, wondering why he filed a bail application when he was not in custody of the EFCC.
She held that the implication of Bello’s action was that he attempted to invoke the jurisdiction of the court too early.
“Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused,” the trial judge held.
However, the court admitted the 2nd defendant in the matter, Umar Oricha, to bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in the like sum.

Justice Anenih is yet to decide the fate of the 3rd defendant in the matter.
Bello, who piloted the affairs of Kogi state from 2016 to 2024, is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N110billion fraud.
Source close to Court indicated that Bello may spend more weeks suggesting that he will spend Christmas in detention facility due to complex nature of his criminal case.
He is answering to a 16-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and two officials of the Kogi state government- Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu- who were cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.

All the defendants had on November 27, pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as trial Justice Aninih remanded them in custody of the EFCC, pending the determination of their bail applications.

The EFCC had specifically urged the court to turn down ex-governor Bello’s request for 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 case, 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.

More so, the EFCC challenged the competence of the bail application it noted was filed on November 22, about five days before the arraignment took place.

Consequently, it prayed the court to dismiss the bail application that Bello filed through his legal team led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.

Bello had in his application that was predicated on six grounds, argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.

Insisting that he was innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him, the defendant contended that he would not be able to effectively prepare his defence, if allowed to remain in detention.

The defence lawyer urged the court to ignore EFCC’s claim that his client refused to submit himself for trial.