Alleged N80bn fraud: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Nwite ruled on Bello’s bail application on Friday.

The judge said the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of properties in Abuja.

He said the sureties must tender the title documents of the properties, which must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The judge also ordered that the ex-governor must deposit his international passport with the court, while he and his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.

The judge ordered that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Justice Nwite’s ruling followed Bello’s non-guilty plea to the 18-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The 18-count charge borders on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion.

When the case was called for hearing on Friday, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro SAN informed the court of the prosecution’s intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events.

The defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN raised no objections and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request.

Meanwhile, the court fixed February 24 and 28, 2025, for the commencement of full hearing.