Justice MaryAnne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, bail in N500 million and three sureties in a N110 billion alleged fraud case.
Justice Anenih gave the ruling following a fresh bail application brought before the court following the court’s refusal to grant Bello bail at the last sitting.
Bello, with two others, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being charged for 16-point offences raised against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.
She, however, granted the second and third defendants, bail in N300m with two sureties alongside other conditions.
The judge said the sureties must be responsible citizens who are landowners in any of the listed areas in Abuja – Maitama, Guzape, Apo, Wuse 2 or Asokoro.
She ordered that the sureties must deposit the documents of the property with the court’s registrar alongside two recent passport photographs.
Justice Anenih also ordered that Bello must deposit two copies of his recent passport photograph alongside a photocopy of a means of identification which could be either an International Passport or National Identity card after showing the original to the court’s registrar.
According to the judge, “The first defendant must not travel without the permission of this court and he shall remain in the Kuje Correctional Facility until the bail conditions are met.”
The court on December 10, had rejected Bello’s bail plea citing procedural irregularities in the filing of the application.
Justice Anenih, said the application was premature and filed before Bello was present in court or custody.
The court noted that the bail application, dated November 22, 2024, was filed before Bello’s arraignment, which took place on November 27, 2024; days after he was taken into custody on November 26, 2024.
She said, “Having not been filed when the first defendant was either in custody or before the court, this instant application is incompetent.
