Court Grants Ex-Gov Bello N500m Bail in Fraud Case
ABUJA- The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been in prison detention since December 10. He got a fresh N500million bail from a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama, on Thursday. The court, in the ruling that was delivered by Justice Maryann Anenih, equally ordered him to provide three sureties in the like sum. It held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the high brow areas of Abuja.
The court ordered the said former governor to surrender his international travel documents and also not leave the country without permission.
Bello governed Kogi state from 2016 to 2024 and has been arraigned on charges of complicity in a fraud pegged at N110billion.
Bello currently faces 16-count criminal charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in conjunction with two officials of Kogi state government- Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The count levied against the defendants numbered CR/7781 borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property. EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties such as Number 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja(N950 million), Number 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja(N100 million) and Number 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja(N920 million).
Among the other properties the defendants allegedly bought with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury are Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Beng.
ABUJA – Alhaji Yahaya Bello is still in prison detention since December 10 as the immediate past governor of Kogi State. This time, Federal High Court sittings at Maitama granted him a fresh bail of N500 million. In his judgment which was delivered recently, Justice Maryann Anenih, also added that he should get three sureties in similar amount.
They must own land in prime locations in Abuja. The court also directed the former governor to surrender his international traveling documents and ruled out any travel outside Nigeria without permission.
Bello ruled Kogi state from 2016 to the year 2024 and has been charged concerning his involvement in a fraud of N110billion.
He is currently facing a 16-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, along with two officials of the Kogi state government- Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The count against the defendants CR/7781 relates to conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of property said to be illegally acquired. EFCC accused the former governor of misappropriating state money for the purchase of properties including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Among other properties allegedly purchased from Kogi state treasury thieves are Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
