A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama granted former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello bail over alleged criminal breach of trust involving N110.4 billionBello must provide three sureties, each with properties worth N500 million in prime areas of the FCT, including Guzape, Wuse 2, and Asokoro, among othersThis bail follows a previous N500 million bail granted to Bello by the Federal High Court in a separate N80 billion money laundering case
FCT, Abuja – A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted bail to Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, in the sum of N500 million.
Bello faces charges of alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to N110,446,470,089, a violation of sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
Ruling on the bail application on Thursday, December 19, Justice Maryann Anenih 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.
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Court Grants Kogi Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello N500m Bail in ‘N110 Billion Fraud’ Case
Source: UGC
“The sureties must be responsible citizens of Nigeria and provide identification documents, including passport photographs and National Identification Numbers (NIN),” Justice Anenih stated in the ruling.
Henzodaily.ng reports that this ruling follows a previous N500 million bail granted to Bello by the Federal High Court in Abuja just a week ago, in connection with a separate N80 billion money laundering case involving 19 charges.
Case adjourned to January
The case is expected to continue, with further developments anticipated in the coming weeks, The Cable reported.
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.
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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.
Yahaya Bello’s denies allegations of threatening Tinubu
Earlier, Henzodaily.ng reported that Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has strongly denied claims that he threatened President Bola Tinubu, as reported by an online medium.
Speaking through his media office, Bello refuted the allegations, calling them “mischievous” and “senseless.”
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In a statement issued on Monday, December 16, Bello’s Media Office, led by Director Ohiare Michael, dismissed the report published by a website known as Daily Excessive.
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Source: Henzodaily.ng