The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved bail for Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, setting the amount at ₦500 million.
Presiding over the case on Friday, Justice Emeka Nwite stipulated that Bello must present two sureties, each required to provide an affidavit of means and own property in Abuja. The title documents of these properties will be verified by the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.
Additionally, the court ordered that the ex-governor must surrender his international passport and submit two recent passport photographs alongside those of his sureties.
Justice Nwite further directed that Bello be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja until he meets the bail conditions.
Bello, who is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering involving ₦80 billion, pleaded not guilty to the accusations brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court of his decision to withdraw an earlier application to expedite the arraignment date, noting that it was no longer necessary. The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, raised no objections, and Justice Nwite subsequently struck out the application