By Abiola Olawale
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a ruling, granting bail to the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The court, in its ruling on Friday, set the bail amount at N500 million.
The Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite also held that the former governor must produce two sureties in like sum.
Justice Nwite also ruled that the two sureties must 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.
Additionally, Justice Nwite issued a directive stating that the former governor is required to surrender his international passport to the court. In addition, both he and his two sureties must provide two recent passport photographs each for court records. This measure is part of the court’s conditions for their continued appearance and compliance in the ongoing legal proceedings.
He also ruled that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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.
However, Bello pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
This comes after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruled that Bello be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a hearing on his bail application.
The presiding judge, Maryann Anenih, dismissed the bail application submitted by Bello, ruling that the trial on the N110 billion alleged money laundering will continue on January 29 and 30 and February 25 and 27.
