The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, saw his request for bail denied on Tuesday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. The court, presided over by Justice Maryann, dismissed Bello’s application, ruling that it was prematurely filed, as he had not yet been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the time of submission.

Bello’s bail plea was submitted on November 22, four days before he was officially detained by the EFCC on November 26. The former governor was subsequently arraigned before the court on November 27, alongside two other co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, in connection with a series of charges filed by the EFCC.

The case, which is marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, involves a 16-count charge accusing Bello and his co-defendants of criminal breach of trust. The charges stem from the alleged misappropriation of a staggering sum of N110,446,470,089 (over 110 billion Naira), among other financial malpractices.

The former governor, who had served as the head of Kogi State, now faces serious legal repercussions as the court proceedings unfold. The EFCC has been pressing for accountability, with Bello’s case expected to attract significant public attention due to the large sum involved.

Despite the denial of his bail application, the case is poised to continue under the scrutiny of the Justice Anenih-led court, which will oversee the further proceedings.