Court Grants Bail to Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello in N500m bail

Court Grants Bail to Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello in N500m bail

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in a case involving allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion. Justice MaryAnne Anenih, presiding over the case, approved the bail on Thursday following a fresh application brought before the court. Bello’s initial bail request had been rejected at the last sitting due to procedural irregularities.

Justice Anenih set strict conditions for Bello’s release, including:

Bello’s bail was set at ₦500 million, with three sureties.

The sureties must be responsible citizens and landowners in specified high-profile areas in Abuja, such as Maitama, Guzape, Apo, Wuse 2, or Asokoro.

Sureties are required to submit the property documents and two recent passport photographs to the court’s registrar.

Bello must provide two passport photographs and a valid means of identification—either an International Passport or National Identity Card—with the original shown to the court registrar.

Bello is prohibited from traveling without the court’s permission,he will remain in the Kuje Correctional Facility until all bail conditions are met.

Two other defendants in the case, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were also granted bail. Their bail was set at ₦300 million each, with two sureties required to meet similar conditions as those of Bello.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed 16 counts against Bello, Oricha, and Hudu, alleging criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving massive sums. The EFCC’s allegations have drawn significant public attention, given the high-profile nature of the case and the sums involved.

Bello’s initial bail application was denied on December 10, 2024. Justice Anenih ruled that the application, dated November 22, 2024, was filed prematurely. At the time, Bello had not yet been taken into custody or arraigned. The court emphasized that bail applications must adhere to procedural requirements, noting that Bello’s custody commenced on November 26, with his arraignment following on November 27. Consequently, the earlier application was deemed incompetent.

Justice Anenih stated, “Having not been filed when the first defendant was either in custody or before the court, this instant application is incompetent. Consequently, the application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”

The granting of bail to Bello and his co-defendants underscores the critical importance of procedural compliance in legal proceedings. The stringent conditions imposed reflect the court’s effort to ensure accountability while upholding the rights of the defendants to fair treatment under the law. The case continues to unfold, with public interest closely monitoring its developments.

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