The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust. The bail, set at N500 million, was granted by Justice MaryAnne Anenih on Thursday, following a new application after the court had previously rejected his initial request for bail.
Bello, along with two other co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, is standing trial on 16 charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to an alleged misappropriation of over N110 billion in public funds. While the other two defendants were granted bail at a sum of N300 million each, with two sureties, the conditions for Bello’s bail were more stringent, reflecting the seriousness of the charges.
Justice Anenih outlined several conditions for Bello’s bail, emphasizing the necessity for him to provide two sureties who must be reputable citizens and landowners within high-profile areas of Abuja such as Maitama, Wuse 2, Guzape, Asokoro, or Apo. These sureties are required to submit the title deeds of their properties to the court registrar, along with two passport-sized photographs. Additionally, Bello himself must submit two passport photos and a photocopy of a valid identification document, such as an International Passport or National Identity card, after presenting the originals to the registrar.
In her ruling, Justice Anenih emphasized that the former governor would remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Facility until the bail conditions were fully met, and further stated that Bello must obtain court approval before traveling outside the jurisdiction.
The ruling came after an earlier setback for Bello, when the court had rejected his first bail application on December 10. The court found that the initial application was premature, having been filed before Bello was formally arraigned or taken into custody. At that time, Justice Anenih remarked that the application had been lodged before the defendant’s legal process was properly underway, making it "incompetent" under the law.
At Thursday’s hearing, Bello’s legal counsel, J.B. Daudu, appealed to the court for more reasonable bail conditions, noting the difficulty in securing property documents from high-profile areas like Maitama, where many properties are commercial rather than residential. He requested that the court extend the range of acceptable areas, suggesting that neighborhoods such as Wuse 2, Garki, and Asokoro also be considered for the bail conditions.
The prosecution, represented by Olukayode Enitan, acknowledged the defense's request for more flexibility and confirmed that discussions had taken place between the defense and prosecution teams to ensure a fair and expeditious trial. Enitan noted that while the prosecution maintained its opposition to the bail, it ultimately left the decision in the hands of the court.
Justice Anenih, after careful consideration, acknowledged that the charges faced by Bello were bailable, and ultimately ruled in favor of granting bail, with the higher sum of N500 million for the former governor. For the two other defendants, the bail was set at N300 million, with similar conditions requiring sureties to be landowners in designated areas of the capital.
The next hearing for the case has been scheduled for January 29 and 30, 2025. As the trial continues, the accused face significant legal challenges as they work to defend themselves against the serious charges of financial misconduct.
