The Federal High Court, Abuja, has admitted a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to bail, in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court granted the relief after the former governor had pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Yahaya Bello is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N80bn.
When the case was called for hearing on Friday, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
According to him, the application had been overtaken by events.
The defendant’s counsel, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Emeka Nwite accordingly granted the request.
After the defendant had taken his plea, Daudu, SAN, gave reasons why he was not in court during the previous hearings.
While moving an application for bail, he assured that the former governor would always be present in court for the trial.
Daudu commended the prosecution counsel, saying he had conducted himself in the best tradition because the matter was not a do-or-die one.
On his part, the prosecution counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, said though they had filed a counter-affidavit, they would not oppose the bail, going by the assurances of Daudu.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite granted the defendant N500 million bail with two sureties.
The defendant was also asked to submit his international passport, while he would remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
In the meantime, justice Nwite has fixed February 24, 2025, for hearing into the matter.
