An Abuja High Court has scheduled December 10 for its ruling on the bail application of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and two co-defendants.
Justice Maryann Anenih set the date on Wednesday after hearing arguments from prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and defense counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN. The case has garnered significant attention as legal teams debate the merits of granting bail.
The News Agency of Nigeria earlier reported that the former governor and the co-defendants; Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The first defendant, Mr. Bello, denied the allegations leveled against him when the court registrar read the counts against him.
After taking their plea, the defendant’s counsel moved a bail application.
But Pinheiro opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.
Responding, Daudu clarified that the only relevant application before the court was the motion for bail for the first defendant, which was filed on Nov. 22.