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, 19th of December, she outlined the conditions of bail. Bello must provide three sureties, each with properties worth N500 million, situated in prime areas of the FCT, including Guzape, Wuse 2, Apo, Asokoro, and Jabi.
She also ordered Bello to deposit his passport and other travel documents, pronouncing: Bello must not travel without the permission of this court and he shall remain in the Kuje correctional facility until the bail conditions are met.
The case is expected to continue, with further developments anticipated in the coming weeks.
On December 10, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and 30, and February 25 and 27, after rejecting Bello’s bail request for being premature.
At Thursday’s hearing, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, informed the court of a further affidavit filed in response to the prosecution’s counter affidavit but requested to withdraw it to avoid contention.
The prosecution had no objection, and the court granted the withdrawal.
Daudu also requested bail for his client and a variation of the bail conditions for other defendants, proposing that properties for bail bonds be allowed from across the FCT, not just Maitama.
The prosecution agreed, and the judge granted Bello’s bail while modifying the conditions for the second and third defendants.
Bello was required to deposit his international passport and travel documents with the court and will remain at Kuje Correctional Centre until the conditions are met.
The case is adjourned to January 29 and 30, 2025.