The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been granted bail to the tune of ₦500 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the court session on Friday, outlined strict conditions for the bail.
Bello, who is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, must provide two sureties.
These sureties must each be worth ₦500 million and own properties in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
The properties will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court before they can be accepted.
In addition, the sureties are required to swear an affidavit of means to prove their financial ability.
Bello himself must deposit his international passport with the court.
This will prevent him from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
Both the former governor and his sureties are also required to submit two recent passport photographs.
Until the bail conditions are met, Justice Nwite ordered that Bello remain in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Bello on charges of laundering ₦80.2 billion.
The EFCC claims that the former governor used five proxies to acquire expensive properties in Abuja and Dubai.
The alleged fraud is one of the largest cases of financial misconduct in recent times.
Bello has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
His legal team, led by senior advocate Joseph Daudu, SAN, has vowed to fight the allegations.
The EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that an earlier application for an expedited trial date had been overtaken by events and was therefore withdrawn.
Justice Nwite granted the request and struck out the application.
The case has been adjourned until February 24, 2024, for the commencement of the full trial.
Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2024, was first remanded in custody earlier this month over the charges.
The EFCC has been investigating several alleged financial crimes during his tenure.
According to court documents, the former governor allegedly moved large sums of money through a complex web of transactions.
The charges stem from accusations that Bello used his position to enrich himself and his associates at the expense of the people of Kogi State.
The bail ruling on Friday came after a series of delays and legal back-and-forths.
Before the hearing, Bello had been in Kuje prison, awaiting the outcome of his bail application.
The ruling on Friday has sparked reactions from various quarters.
Some have hailed the decision as a step towards fairness and justice.
Others, however, are concerned about the implications of the case on Nigerian politics and governance.
The trial is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds, especially given Bello’s status as a former governor.
The Kogi State government has yet to comment on the developments.
Bello’s case is one of several high-profile corruption trials currently ongoing in Nigeria.
The EFCC has been under pressure to tackle corruption at all levels of government.
The commission’s efforts have led to several arrests, prosecutions, and convictions in recent years.
However, critics argue that the pace of justice in such high-profile cases remains slow.
The court’s decision to grant Bello bail under strict conditions is seen as an attempt to balance the need for justice with his constitutional rights.
As the case moves forward, many will be watching closely to see how it impacts Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight.
The trial is set to resume on February 24, 2024, with further hearings scheduled for the following days.
