Abuja Federal High Court has granted bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the tune of ₦500 million, and be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered that the former governor must produce two sureties in like sum, swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of Properties in Abuja.
In addition, the title documents of the properties, which must be in Abuja, will 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 his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.
Bello pleaded not guilty to the alleged ₦80 billion frauds leveled 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.
At the resumed hearing, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment, which was granted.
The case was adjourned to February 24 for the continuation of hearing.