The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has dismissed the bail application filed by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The application was struck out by Justice Maryann Anenih on Tuesday, citing procedural irregularities.

The court ruled that the bail request, filed on November 22, 2024, was premature, as it was submitted before Bello was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 26 and subsequently arraigned on November 27.

Justice Anenih stated that the application violated Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which stipulates that bail applications can only be made after arrest, arraignment, or during the hearing of a case. Since the former governor had not yet been arrested or arraigned at the time the application was filed, the judge dismissed it in its entirety.