Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello faced more legal trouble on Tuesday when the FCT High Court rejected his bail application.
The ruling comes as the ex-governor grapples with serious charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Maryann struck out Bello’s bail application on the grounds that it was filed prematurely, before his formal arrest. The application, submitted on November 22, was deemed invalid since Bello was only taken into custody by the EFCC on November 26.
Bello’s legal troubles intensified when he was arraigned on November 27, facing charges related to criminal breach of trust and financial misconduct. The former governor is accused of embezzling over N110 billion in state funds during his time in office.
He stands trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, who are also facing a 16-count charge filed by the EFCC. The charges are part of an ongoing investigation into the management of Kogi State’s resources during Bello’s tenure.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, is expected to proceed, with serious legal consequences for Bello and his co-defendants.
