A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the tune of N500 million with two sureties in the like sum.
Ruling on Friday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in 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.
“I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the sum of N500 million and two sureties in like sum who must possess landed property in Abuja,” the judge ruled.
The court held that the defendant should remain at Kuje prison, pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
It subsequently slated February 24 and 28, 2025 for the commencement of a full-blown hearing into the 19-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against the defendant.
Bello earlier pleaded not guilty to the 19 charges of N80.2 billion fraud.
The EFCC did not oppose the request for bail, stating that it is at the court’s discretion.
