Alleged N80bn Fraud: Court Grants Yahaya Bello N500m Bail 

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, admitted a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to bail in the sum of N500 million.

Justice Nwite, in a ruling said he grant the bail due to the good behaviour of Bello’s lawyer, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the show of understanding from the prosecution lawyer, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

As part of the conditions, the court ordered the former governor to produce two sureties in like sum, who must own properties in Abuja, and also swore to an affidavit of means.

According to Nwite, the said property’s documents must be verified by the registrar of the court.

The two sureties alongside with Bello shall deposit a recent passport photographs to the court, while Bello in addition is to deposit his international passport with the court.

Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, however held that the former governor should be released upon perfection of the bail conditions.

Bello earlier told the court that he is not guilty of the N80 billion fraud charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

Bello denied the allegations shortly after the entire 19-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering, fraud and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion was read to him.

He was said to have committed the allegations when he was governor of Kogi State between 2015 and 2023.

Details later…