Court Grants Yahaya Bello N500m Bail, Sets February 24 for Trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties each providing a similar amount. The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, stipulated that the sureties must own property in Abuja, with their title documents verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
In addition to this, the sureties are required to submit an affidavit of means, while both Bello and the sureties must provide recent passport photographs.
The court also ordered Bello to surrender his international passport and prohibited him from travelling abroad without prior permission. He is to remain in custody at Kuje prison until the bail conditions are met.
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The case is set to proceed to full hearing on February 24 and 28, where Bello will face a 19-count money laundering charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former governor, who led Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, has pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which include his involvement in an N80.2 billion fraud.
The EFCC claims that Bello used five proxies to acquire prime properties in high-end areas of Abuja and Dubai.
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