₦110.4bn Fraud: Court grants Yahaya Bello ₦500m bail
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted the immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of ₦500 million with three sureties.
The decision was made by Justice MaryAnne Anenih on Thursday after hearing a fresh bail application, following the court’s previous refusal to grant Bello bail at the last sitting.
Bello, alongside two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, faces 16 charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
The court also granted bail to the second and third defendants in the sum of ₦300 million each, with two sureties and other conditions.
Justice Anenih outlined that the sureties for Bello must be responsible citizens and landowners in any of the listed areas in Abuja, including Maitama, Guzape, Apo, Wuse 2, or Asokoro. The sureties must also submit property documents with the court’s registrar along with two recent passport photographs.
Further, Bello is required to submit two copies of his recent passport photograph and a photocopy of a means of identification, either an International Passport or National Identity card, after presenting the original to the court’s registrar.
The judge also ruled that Bello must not travel without the court’s permission and ordered him to remain in Kuje Correctional Facility until his bail conditions are met.
It is worth noting that on December 10, the court had previously rejected Bello’s bail request due to procedural irregularities in the filing of the application. The judge ruled that the application was premature as it was filed before Bello was arraigned or taken into custody.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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