The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in the sum of N500 million.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, ordered that Bello provide two sureties, each also liable for N500 million.
The sureties must be property owners in Abuja and must submit an affidavit of means.
Additionally, the title documents of their properties will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Bello is also required to deposit his international passport with the court, and both he and his sureties must provide two recent passport photographs.
Pending the fulfillment of these bail conditions, the former governor has been remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja.
The ex-governor has pleaded not guilty to the charges of alleged money laundering involving an N80 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 19-count charge against him.
During the proceedings, EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that an earlier application for the abridgment of the arraignment date had been overtaken by events and was therefore withdrawn.
The defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Nwite subsequently struck out the application.
