Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, has regained freedom
after meeting bail conditions.
Bello has been charged with alleged criminal breach of trust
to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal
Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section
312 of same law.
On Thursday, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in
Maitama granted bail to Bello in the sum of N500 million.
Maryann Anenih, the trial judge, held that the defendant
must produce three sureties in like sum who must be responsible citizens of
Nigeria.
The sureties must have landed properties within Guzape, Wuse
2, Apo, Asokoro and Jabi areas in the FCT.
They are to submit two passport photographs each and other
means of identification like National Identification Number (NIN).
In a now-viral video, Bello and Usman Ododo, governor of
Kogi, are seen jubilating.
TheCable understands that the former governor is already in
Kogi state.
In the video, he is seen surrounded by a group of people who
were also jubilating over his release.
The bail ruling comes barely a week after the ex-governor
was granted bail in the sum of N500 million by the federal high court in Abuja,
on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N80
billion.
CASE ADJOURNED TO JANUARY
Bello and his co-defendants — Umar Shoaib Oricha and
Abdulsalami Hudu — were arraigned on November 27 before the FCT court on a
16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N110
billion.
On December 10, Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and
30; and February 25 and 27, after declining Bello’s bail request on the grounds
that the application was filed prematurely.
When the case was called for hearing on Thursday, Joseph
Daudu, Bello’s counsel, informed the court that the defence counsels had filed
a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by
the prosecution counsels.
However, he applied to withdraw the further affidavit.
“We do not want to make the matter contentious,” Daudu said.
There was no objection from Olukayode Enitan, the
prosecution counsel. The court, therefore, granted the application for
withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.
Daudu also prayed the court to grant bail to his client and
to vary the bail condition of the other defendants.
The counsel implored the court to broaden the scope of
properties to be used as bail bond to include locations across the FCT, rather
than limiting the location to Maitama.
The prosecution did not object. Consequently, the judge
granted bail to the first defendant.
She also varied the bail condition of the 2nd and 3rd
defendants to allow their sureties own properties in any location within the
FCT.
The first defendant (Bello) was also asked to deposit his
international passport and other travel documents with the court. Bello will
remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are perfected.
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