By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties over allegations bordering on fraud a case amounting to N110.4 billion.
The bail application was granted on Thursday, December 19, 2024, by Justice MaryAnne Anenih.
Justice Anenih also ruled that the sureties must be responsible citizens, owning land in specified prime areas of Abuja such as Maitama, Guzape, Apo, Wuse 2, or Asokoro.
The New Diplomat reports that the bail follows another N500 million bail granted to Bello by the Federal High Court in Abuja for a separate N80 billion money laundering case involving 19 charges.
It would be recalled that the 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion, was the first lawsuit the EFCC slammed against the immediate past Kogi state governor.
In a fresh charge filed on September 24 2024, the EFCC accused the former governor of N110 billion in fraud.
Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Also, the defendants were accused of allegedly transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoke Business Solution Limited.
