Court Grants Yahaya Bello ₦500 Million Bail Over Alleged ₦80 Billion Fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, following his arraignment on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The bail was set at ₦500 million with stringent conditions.

Presiding over the case, Justice Emeka Nwite directed that Bello must provide two sureties in like sum, who are required to swear affidavits of means and own properties in Abuja. The court ordered that the properties’ title documents be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar.

As part of the bail conditions, the former governor must surrender his international passport to the court and submit two recent passport photographs alongside his sureties. Justice Nwite also ruled that Bello be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center until the bail conditions are fulfilled.

Bello has pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which involve claims of diverting public funds amounting to ₦80 billion. The EFCC had filed the charges against him earlier, alleging financial impropriety during his tenure.

At the hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court of his decision to withdraw a prior application for an earlier arraignment date, stating that the request was no longer necessary. The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), raised no objection, and Justice Nwite struck out the application accordingly.