Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million with three sureties of the same amount ¹. This decision comes after Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court initially rejected Bello’s bail application on December 10, citing that it was premature.
In her initial ruling, Justice Anenih stated that the bail application was incompetent because it was filed while Bello was neither in custody nor before the court. However, the court allowed Bello’s legal team to file a fresh bail application and apply for a hearing date.
Bello is currently facing trial on 16 counts of alleged money laundering involving ₦110 billion, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Persecondnews recalls that he had denied all the charges.
The defendant is currently facing trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N110 billion, alongside two other defendants.
He has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to the 16-count charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Commission(EFCC).
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, Mr. Joseph Daudu(SAN), counsel for the defendant, told the court that the defence team had submitted an additional affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed by the prosecution.
However, Daudu made a surprising move, applying to withdraw the additional affidavit, stating: “We do not want to make the matter contentious.”
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Olukayode Enitan(SAN), raised no objections, and consequently, the court granted the application, striking out the further affidavit from the records.
Daudu informed the court that he had engaged in discussions with the leader of the prosecution counsels, resulting in a mutual agreement to expedite the trial proceedings.
Based on this understanding, Daudu urged the court to grant the bail application, highlighting the progress made in facilitating a speedy trial.
He further requested that, should the court grant bail to the defendants, it would also consider reviewing the bail conditions for the first, second, and third defendants.
Additionally, he urged the court to expand the acceptable locations for bail sureties to include properties across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rather than restricting them to Maitama alone.
The prosecution counsel, acknowledged that discussions had taken place between Daudu and the prosecution team.
In line with the Rules of Professional Conduct(RPC), Enitan assured the court that the EFCC would cooperate fully in expediting the trial.
He said: “I confirm the evidence given by the distinguished member of the bar that is leading the Defence, Mr. J.B. Daudu (SAN), that he has been in conversation with the leader of the prosecuting team.
“As with the legal tradition that we should cooperate with members of the bar when it does not affect the course of justice, we have decided not to make this contentious, bearing in mind that no matter how industrious the defence counsel might be in pushing forward the application for bail.
“And no matter how vociferous the prosecution counsel can argue against the bail application, your lordship is bound by your discretion to grant or not to grant the application.
“We are therefore leaving this to your lordship’s discretion.”
Delivering her ruling, Anenih acknowledged that the offence with which the 1st Defendant was charged was bailable, and subsequently granted the former governor bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.
The sureties, who must be prominent Nigerians, are required to own landed property in select areas of Abuja, including Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki, and Asokoro.
As part of the bail conditions, the 1st Defendant, was ordered to surrender his international passport and other travel documents to the court, and he will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the conditions are fulfilled.
On December 13, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties over another N80.2 billion fraud case,
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