Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, was granted N500 million bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, along with two sureties of the same amount.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, stated that bail is granted at the court’s discretion while delivering the ruling.
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.
Aside from directing the sureties to tender the title documents of the properties, which must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, Justice Nwite equally ordered them to swear to an affidavit of means.
According to the court, both the defendant and the sureties must submit their recent passport photographs.
It further ordered the former governor to surrender his international passport and not travel outside the country without permission.
The defendant should stay at Kuje jail until the bail requirements are perfected, the court said.
The start of a full-fledged hearing into the 19-count money laundering accusation that the defendant was preferred against by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was then scheduled for February 24 and 28 and March 6 and 7, 2025, for trial.
Before the decision, Bello, who oversaw Kogi state’s operations from 2016 until 2024, maintained his innocence in relation to his alleged involvement in a N80.2 billion scam.
The EFCC specifically claimed that he purchased desirable houses in upscale neighborhoods of Abuja and Dubai using five proxies.