The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, setting the amount at N500 million with two sureties in the same sum.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite mandated that the sureties must own landed properties in Abuja. The court further directed them to provide the title documents for verification by the Deputy Chief Registrar and to swear to an affidavit of means.
Additionally, both the defendant and the sureties are required to submit recent passport photographs. The court ordered Bello to surrender his international passport and restricted him from traveling outside Nigeria without prior approval.
Until the bail conditions are met, Bello will remain in Kuje prison. The court has scheduled February 24 and 28 for the commencement of hearings on the 19-count money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello, who served as Kogi State Governor from 2016 to 2024, has denied involvement in the alleged N80.2 billion fraud. The EFCC claims he used five proxies to acquire luxury properties in Abuja and Dubai.
More details to follow.