The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja on Tuesday made a pivotal ruling in the high-profile case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and his co-defendants.
The court granted bail to Abdulsalami Hudu, one of Bello's co-defendants, amidst ongoing legal proceedings concerning serious allegations of money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Yahaya Bello, along with his co-defendants, including Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Shoaib Oricha, with money laundering offenses amounting to a staggering N110 billion.
These charges are part of a broader investigation into financial mismanagement during Bello's tenure as governor. The EFCC alleges that the defendants engaged in illegal activities to launder substantial sums of money, which were purportedly diverted from state funds.
Justice Maryann Anenih presided over the case and delivered the ruling on Hudu's bail application. The court admitted Hudu to bail in the sum of N300 million, imposing stringent conditions to ensure compliance. As part of the bail conditions, Hudu is required to provide two sureties in like sum.
These sureties must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, specifically in the prestigious Maitama district of Abuja. The value of these properties must not be less than N300 million, and the title documents are to be verified by the court registrar.
Furthermore, Hudu is prohibited from traveling outside Nigeria without the court's permission. He is also mandated to remain in the Kuje Correctional Centre until he fulfills all the bail conditions.
Additionally, both Hudu and his sureties are required to submit two recent passport photographs to the court, and Hudu must deposit his travel documents with the court to prevent any potential flight risk.
The court's decision to grant bail to Hudu contrasts with its stance on Yahaya Bello's bail application. The former governor's request for bail was denied, with Justice Anenih citing procedural errors in the filing of the application.
The judge noted that Bello's bail application was submitted prematurely, before he was taken into custody or formally arraigned, rendering it invalid at the time of filing. According to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025, bail applications should only be filed once a defendant has been arrested, detained, or formally arraigned.
Bello, who was arraigned on November 27, 2024, alongside his co-defendants, faces a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering activities. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite the denial of his bail application, Bello's legal team argued for his release, emphasizing his limited travel history outside Nigeria during his eight-year tenure as governor and asserting that he poses no risk of absconding.
The court has scheduled further hearings for January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27, 2024. With the case set to continue into the new year, Yahaya Bello will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre, marking a festive season spent behind bars.
The legal proceedings against Yahaya Bello and his co-defendants have garnered considerable public attention, given the gravity of the allegations and the substantial sums involved. The EFCC's charges include criminal breach of trust, conspiracy to commit an offense, and money laundering, with the prosecution accusing the defendants of illegally converting state funds for personal use.
In addition to the current case, the EFCC has filed other corruption charges against Bello and his associates. These include an 18-count charge of money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion, which is being heard by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Another case involves charges of about N10 billion against Bello's nephew, Ali Bello, and another defendant, which were amended in February 2024 to include Yahaya Bello as an accomplice.
The EFCC alleges that Bello conspired with Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalami Hudu to convert more than N80 billion belonging to Kogi State for their personal use.
The commission also accuses Bello of conspiring with a company named E-Traders International Limited to conceal over N3 billion in an account domiciled at Access Bank Plc and transferring $570,330 to an account in the United States.
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