The Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, to Kuje Correctional Centre.
This decision comes as he awaits the hearing of his bail application in connection with a substantial N110 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Maryann Anenih presided over the proceedings, where she highlighted that the bail application filed by Bello was premature.
"The instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused," Justice Anenih stated, emphasizing that the application was submitted before Bello was in custody or formally arraigned.
Bello, who served two terms as governor, is facing these charges alongside co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. While Bello's request for bail was denied, his co-defendants were granted bail set at N300 million each, under stringent conditions.
These include the requirement for two sureties with property in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory and the surrender of their international passports to the Court Registrar.
The court has scheduled further hearings for January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27, 2027.
The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued against the timing of Bello's bail application, asserting it was filed before his arraignment.
In contrast, Bello's counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, contended that there was no legal precedent mandating that a bail application could only be filed post-arraignment.
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