December 13, 2024
An Abuja Federal High Court, on Friday, granted bail to the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the tune of N500 million with two sureties in the like sum.
In a ruling that was delivered by trial Justice Emeka Nwite, the court held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in Abuja.
The sureties were also to tender the title documents of the properties, which must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court and swear to an affidavit of means.
Justice Nwite further directed that both the defendant and the sureties must submit their recent passport photograph and ordered the former governor to surrender his international passport should not travel outside the country without permission.
READ MORE; Yahaya Bello Denied Bail Application
He ordered that the defendant remained at Kuje prison, pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
The court had slated February 24 and 28 for the commencement of a full-blown hearing into the 19-count money laundering charge preferred against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Bello, who was governor of Kogi state from 2016 to 2024, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the alleged complicity in an N80.2 billion fraud while in office.