The Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted N500 million bail to the refiled bail request of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the alleged N110.4 billion fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Maryann E. Anenih granted him bail on Thursday.
The court had on December 10, 2024, rejected the bail request of the former governor on the grounds that it was “premature” and was filed prior to his arraignment.
Bello’s co-defendant, Shuabu Oricha, was also granted N300 million bail by the court as of the time of this report.
Bello and two co-defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to an alleged fraud case involving N110.4 billion before Justice Maryann E. Anenih.
Naijaonpoint reports that on October 3, 2024, the court issued a public summons against Bello following his absence during a fresh arraignment on 16-count charges brought against him by the EFCC.
His co-defendants are Shuabu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Bello, Shuabu Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu were accused of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to commit an offense involving N110.4 billion.
“It is the stated law in the country that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. It is within his rights to enjoy his liberty while preparing for trial,” Daudu said.
“This bail application brought by the first defendant(Yahaya Bello) is hereby struck out, ” the judge said, agreeing with EFCC’s line of submission.
On the bail request of co-defendants, the judge noted that they have been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
She subsequently granted them N300 million with two sureties in like sum who must own property at Maitama District, Abuja.
At the resumed proceedings, Joseph Daudu SAN, counsel for the first defendant, said today is for the hearing of the ex-governor’s refiled application for bail and an application to vary the bail conditions of the second and third defendants, dated December 12, 2024.
“The offenses are bailable, having regard to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,” Daudu said, drawing the court’s attention to bail earlier granted to co-defendants in the matter.
Ruling on Bello’s fresh bail, the judge said it appears the EFCC has conceded to the bail request of Bello.
She said bail is hereby granted to Yahaya Bello in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum who must own properties in the court’s jurisdiction ( including Maitama, Apo, Asokoro).
She said bail is hereby granted to Yahaya Bello in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum who must own properties in the court’s jurisdiction ( including Maitama, Apo, Asokoro).
She said Bello shall not travel outside Nigeria without permission of the court (and the permission shall be sought by a motion).
Last week, Yahaya Bello was interrogated by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged fraud case against him during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
Before he was arrested, the EFCC had accused the Kogi State government of using its “immunity” to shield Bello.
After his arraignment before the Federal High Court, Justice Emeka Nwite eventually granted Bello N500 million bail.