The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million.
Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case on Friday, outlined stringent conditions for the bail. The former governor is required to provide two sureties who must swear to an affidavit of means and own properties within Abuja.
The title documents for these properties will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. Additionally, Bello is mandated to deposit his international passport and provide two recent passport photographs along with those of his sureties.
Justice Nwite further ruled that Bello would remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja until his bail conditions are met.
Yahaya Bello pleaded not guilty to a 19-count charge of alleged ₦80 billion fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include money laundering and other financial crimes.
During the hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, withdrew a prior application seeking to expedite the arraignment process, which had already been overtaken by events.
Counsel for the defendant, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not oppose the withdrawal, and the court subsequently struck out the application. The case has drawn significant attention, with many awaiting the next developments in the trial.
