A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned ruling on the bail application filed by Ali Bello, nephew of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and four others in a N3 billion money laundering trial to Monday, February 20, 2023.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter at resumed proceedings on the case on Tuesday.
Counsel to the defendant Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN at the resumed hearing, informed the court of two motions filed on February 7, 2023, seeking the withdrawal and replacement of the initial applications of January 26, 2023, on behalf of the defendants.
In the supporting affidavits, Raji prayed the court to grant the first defendant and others bail “on liberal terms”, stating that the defendants are law-abiding citizens.
He informed the court that his client have been investigated for over a year by the EFCC without jumping bail, adding that “the fourth defendant at a time got his passport back and was permitted by the EFCC to travel to Mecca and he came back.”
However, prosecution counsel, Kabiru Hussini, relying on a seven-paragraph counter affidavit faulted Raji’s claims.
He opposed the bail application saying, the defendants have every tendency to jump bail because they have all the influence, resources and power to intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence in this case.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned to February 20 2023, for ruling on the bail application.
Bello and four others were docked on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, on 18 count charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of 3,081,804,654bn.
The other four defendants are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and Rashida Bello (at large).
Emmanuel Ukoh
