Ex-Kogi gov Yahaya Bello granted ₦500m bail over ₦80.2bn fraud case

Ex-Kogi gov Yahaya Bello granted ₦500m bail over ₦80.2bn fraud case

 

Reprieve came for former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday as a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties.

He was however ordered to surrender his travel passport to the court register and the case adjourned to February next year.

Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, said that bail was granted at the court’s discretion.

He said, “I have listened to the application from both counsels. First off, bail is at the discretion of the court, whether the bail is opposed or supported.

“Ordinarily, based on the antecedents of this case, particularly the conduct exhibited by the defendant, I would have reconsidered the application made by the learned senior counsel for the defendant.

“However, based on the detour exhibited by the learned senior counsel for the defendant, J.B. Daudu (SAN), which was reciprocated by the learned senior counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), I am inclined to depart from our earlier position on this matter.

“In view of the foregoing, I am prepared to grant the application made by both counsel. I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the following terms: One—bail is granted to the defendant in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in the like sum. The two sureties shall own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court, Abuja.

“The two sureties shall swear to an affidavit of means, and the documents of the property shall be verified by the chief deputy registrar of this honourable court.

“The defendant shall deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant and the sureties shall each deposit two recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of this honourable court.

“The defendant shall be released upon the perfection of the bail terms. The case is adjourned to February 24, 28, and March 6 and 7, 2025, for trial.”

Bello slammed with a 19-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is accused of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totalling ₦80.2 billion.