The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to the tune of ₦500 million.
Justice Emeka Nwite who presided over the court session, ordered that Bello must produce two sureties in like sum.
He said the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of Properties in Abuja.
In addition, the Court said the title documents of the properties must be in Abuja, and be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Justice Nwite ordered that the ex-governor must deposit his international passport with the court, while he and his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.
He also ruled that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
Bello pleaded not guilty to the alleged ₦80 billion fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC had arraigned Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering.
During the hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, the prosecution, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, informed the court of their decision to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the arraignment date, noting that the application had been overtaken by events.
Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object to this and Justice Emeka Nwite, accordingly granted the request, striking out the application.
Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2023, faces allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure, but he denied all the charges during his arraignment.
