Court Grants Yahaya Bello ₦500m Bail Over Alleged ₦80bn Fraud

Federal High Court in Abuja has approved bail for Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, setting the amount at ₦500 million.

During the court session on Friday, Justice Emeka Nwite directed Yahaya Bello to provide two sureties, each guaranteeing the same amount.

The sureties are required to swear affidavits of means and must own properties located in Abuja.

The court also ordered the submission of title documents for the properties, which will be verified by the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.

Additionally, Bello must surrender his international passport to the court, and both he and the sureties must submit two recent passport photographs.

Justice Nwite ruled that Bello would remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja until his bail conditions are met.

The former governor had pleaded not guilty to allegations of an ₦80 billion fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had arraigned Bello on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering.

At the hearing, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court of a decision to withdraw an earlier application to expedite the arraignment process, stating it was no longer necessary.

Justice Nwite accepted the request and struck out the application.

Yahaya Bello had previously been remanded on a separate ₦110 billion charge while awaiting his bail hearing.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 24.

KanyiDaily recalls that Yahaya Bello was detained after he arrived at the EFCC office last Tuesday, accompanied by his legal team.