Court grants N500M bail to Yahaya Bello

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, in the amount of ₦500 million

Court grants bail to Yahaya Bello

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case on Friday, ordered that the former governor provide two sureties with similar financial responsibility. The sureties must submit affidavits of means and own properties in Abuja. The title documents for these properties will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The judge also directed that Bello deposit his international passport with the court, and both he and his sureties must provide two recent passport-sized photographs.Additionally, Justice Nwite ruled that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja until the bail conditions are fulfilled.

Bello has pleaded not guilty to an alleged ₦80 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He faces 19 counts related to money laundering.

During the hearing, EFCC Counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court of his intention to withdraw a previous application for an abridged arraignment date, as it had become irrelevant. The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and the court granted the request, striking out the application.