Ali Bello vs. EFCC: Court adjourns hearing to July 17

HEARING of the alleged N3 billion fraud charge brought against Ali Bello and three others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) has been adjourned to July 17 and 18, 2023.

When the matter, in the suit, marked

ABJ/ CR/ 573/ 2022 ( FRN vs. Ali Bello and three others), was called for hearing on Tuesday, counsel to Bello and others, led by Ms Marianne Ediawe, informed the court that they had filed a letter for adjournment on May 26, 2023, and also served the EFCC on the same date.

They informed the court in the said letter that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN), A. M. Aliyu, would be before the Presidential Election Tribunal on the day of the hearing, while Ahmed Raji ( SAN) was recuperating from an ailment.

Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo ( SAN), conceded to the adjournment.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu consequently adjourned the matter to June 17 and 18.

The court had on February 20, 2023 granted bail to

Bello, alongside three others, in the sum of N500 million.

Bello was, on February 8, this year, arraigned, alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18- count criminal charge. Following their not guilty plea, the presiding judge adjourned till February 13 for hearing of their bail application, while ordering their remand in a correctional centre.

Delivering ruling in their request, Egwuatu had held that he was inclined to admit the defendants to bail and ruled that the bail is granted the defendants in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties should be resident in Abuja, with identifiable address and own landed property worth N500 million within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge added that the original title documents to the said property must be deposited with the court registrar, as well as evidence of tax payment for three years running from 2020 to 2022.