BREAKING: Abuja Court Delivers Fresh Judgement On Kogi Ex-Gov, Yahaya Bello

The High Court in the Federal Capital Territory has granted bail to the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the amount of ₦500 million, requiring two sureties of equivalent value.

Justice Maryann Anenih had previously denied the ex-governor’s bail request on December 10, citing that it was submitted prematurely.

In her earlier ruling, she noted that the application was invalid as the first defendant was neither in custody nor present in court at that time.

However, the court allowed the former governor’s legal team the opportunity to submit a new bail application and request a hearing date.

The ex-governor is currently facing allegations of money laundering involving N110 billion, alongside two co-defendants.

He has pleaded not guilty to the 16 charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During the hearing on Thursday, Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing the former governor, informed the court that the defense had submitted a further affidavit in response to the counter-affidavit from the prosecution.

He subsequently requested to withdraw the further affidavit, stating, “We do not want to make the matter contentious.”

The prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, raised no objections to this request.

Consequently, the court approved the withdrawal and dismissed the further affidavit.

Daudu, SAN, also conveyed to the court that discussions had occurred with the head of the prosecution team, leading to an agreement aimed at expediting the trial process.

Subsequently, Daudu implored the court to approve the bail application.

Additionally, he requested that should the court kindly grant bail to the defendant, it should reconsider the bail conditions for the first, second, and third defendants.

He advocated for an expansion of the properties eligible to serve as bail sureties, suggesting that they should encompass locations throughout the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) instead of being restricted to Maitama alone