The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the hearing of his bail application.

Judge Maryann Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27. She also rejected Bello’s bail application, emphasising that it was filed prematurely.

“The provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025 provide that bail applications could be tendered when a defendant has been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court,” Anenih explained.

Bello, who is facing N110 billion money laundering charges, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 26 and arraigned the next day. His bail application was submitted on November 22, four days before his arrest.

However, Bello’s co-defendants Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were granted bail under specific conditions.

The court granted Oricha and Hudu N300 million bail each, requiring two sureties who own properties in the Maitama district of Abuja.

The judge required that each surety must provide a bond for one defendant and directed the defendants to deposit their passports with the court registrar.