posted February 13, 2023
…Gov. Bello’s wife is not a defendant in the matter, Court proceedings show
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned till 14th February for a hearing on the bail application filed by Ali Bello and 3 others on an alleged N3 billion fraud charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
On 8th February 2023, Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned for hearing on the bail application filed by the defendants after they had pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge.
At the resumed sitting, Counsel to the defendants, A. Hussein, had told the court that the EFCC had filed a counter affidavit to the bail application.
The EFCC’s Counter Affidavit, filed on Friday, was not in the Court’s file and not in the Registry of the Court. It was alleged by the EFCC that it was mistakenly taken to another Court, Court 7.
Justice Egwuatu noted that there were no copies of the counter affidavit in his record.
In light of the above, the Court adjourned the matter to tomorrow, 14th February 2022 for a hearing of the bail application.
Also, Governor Yahaya Bello’s wife, Mrs. Rasheedat Bello, was not a defendant in the matter as Court proceedings show, which EFCC has confirmed in a Press release on Sunday.
Contrary to insinuations that the Monday sitting was for ruling on the EFCC case against Ali Bello and 3 others, it was for hearing on the bail application filed by the defendants.