BREAKING: Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello Granted N500m Bail by FCT High Court

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million. Justice Maryann Anenih delivered the ruling on Thursday, requiring Bello to provide three sureties in the same amount.

The bail decision comes after Justice Anenih initially rejected Bello’s application on December 10, deeming it premature since it was filed before the defendant appeared in court or was taken into custody. Following that, his legal team submitted a fresh application for bail.

Bello is facing a trial on 16 counts of alleged money laundering involving N110 billion, alongside two other defendants. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During Thursday’s hearing, Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the defense had filed a further affidavit in response to the prosecution’s objections. However, Daudu requested to withdraw the affidavit to avoid unnecessary contention, a motion the prosecution did not oppose.

Both defense and prosecution counsels confirmed ongoing discussions to ensure a speedy trial. Daudu also urged the court to adjust bail conditions for all three defendants, including expanding the range of acceptable locations for surety properties within the FCT.

EFCC counsel Olukayode Enitan, SAN, expressed no objection to the court exercising its discretion in granting bail, emphasizing the importance of cooperation within the legal process.

Justice Anenih ruled that the charges against Bello were bailable and granted him bail with the following conditions: a N500 million bond and three sureties with notable standing. The sureties must own landed properties in specific areas within Abuja, including Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki, and Asokoro. Bello must surrender his international passport and travel documents to the court and will remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are fulfilled.

For the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Umaru Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, the court granted bail at N300 million each, with two sureties owning properties in specified FCT locations. They are also required to deposit their travel documents and remain in custody until the bail conditions are met.

The case underscores the court’s commitment to balancing justice with procedural fairness as the trial progresses.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eleven Ondo Assembly Members Plot to Declare Aiyedatiwa Acting Governor After Receiving Bribe in Abuja

Image
In a shocking turn of events, eleven members of the Ondo State House of Assembly are allegedly planning to declare the embattled deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor without recourse to the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.  These clandestine meetings reportedly took place in Abuja, where each of the eleven members received a substantial bribe of $10,000. Adding to the intrigue, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, was present at the meeting, which raised suspicions that he had betrayed Governor Akeredolu in exchange for personal gratifications.  It is also said that some Northern Governors are involved in this move, seeking revenge against Governor Akeredolu for his stance on the southern Presidency and his  strong voice against the issue of killer herdsmen. Aiyedatiwa, backed by the state APC chairman, Adetimehin, has joined forces with certain individuals from Northern Nigeria to undermine Governor Akeredolu....
Read more

Dele Momodu: Why should Yahaya Bello surrender himself to EFCC when there is an existing injunction?

Image
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's conduct in its attempt to prosecute the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.  He said he had expected the anti-graft agency's boss, Ola Olukoyede, to have learnt from the cases of his predecessors, who he said were "booted out ignominiously". Momodu, who spoke on his Instagram Live show, while responding to questions on the burning topic by viewers, also frowned at the issue of selective prosecution, saying "a situation where EFCC would have to be told who can be touched and who cannot be touched is unacceptable."  He said, "When they brought in the new chairman, I thought oh, you will have the benefit of learning from your predecessors. All of them were booted out ignominiously and if I were in the shoes of the current chairman, what I will simply do is make sure I do my job as meticulously, as professio...
Read more

Coalition of Delta Ijaw PDP Support Groups/ Ijaw Ex-Agitators Gives Notice for Peaceful Protest to Delta Government House, Asaba

Image
Please  By Wilson Macaulay A Coalition of Delta Ijaw PDP Support Groups / Ijaw Ex-Agitators has given a  notice for Peaceful Protest to Delta Government House, Asaba for what they termed as total neglect and reckless abandonment after repeated failed promises of those assigned to broker a truce. The ljaw Youth Groups in a determined move to draw attention to their grievances, , announced plans for a peaceful protest at the Delta State Government House in Asaba. The protest, we reliably gathered is proposed to commence on  16th of July, 2024. The action according to inside sources is aimed to address unresolved issues despite numerous attempts made  in the past for dialogue with the  State authorities which failed. The Coalition Groups in a press statement signed by  Okporu Ebi Augustine, Chairman, Vice-Chairman , Gen .Birinumughan Jesse,  Vice Chairman,Comrade Jackson Agbor, Secretary General, Barr. Prince Nelson, Legal Adviser,Awipi Lawson Peibulou an...
Read more

APC Leaders, Members Call Ex- Commissioner, Aiyerin, a Mole

Image
• Controversies Trail Aiyerin's Plan to rejoin APC  A former commissioner for Agriculture under governor Mimiko's administration, Charles Olusegun Aiyerin, has been resisted members and leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in his political ward, Ilutitun Ward I, in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State. Aiyerin was alleged to be a mole of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, being the party he left the APC for in the heat of the 2023 general elections and publicly worked for, against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It was argued that he had not formally return to the APC as he openly did for PDP, and thus cannot be trusted. It would be recalled that Ayerin publicly resigned from APC in a letter dated 6th of February, 2023, addressed to the Chairman, Ward one Ilutitun in a disparaging manner that put the APC in a public odium.  In the letter and subsequently, Aiyerin allegedly castigated and campaigned vigorously against all the APC candi...
Read more

Glitz as Rugipo Matriculates 3000 students

Image
  ...as Rector Harps on Good Conduct... Oyindamola Bakare It was an event filled with pomp and pageantry as Ondo State owned Polytechnic Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo om Friday(Today)  holds her 29th Matriculation ceremony for the fresh students of the 2021/2022 academic session The epoch making event which was held at 800 seater of the institution was graced by the Rector, Principal officers, Faculty of Deans , Board of Studies Members, All Departmental HOD ,the Students Union Government, Jamb Representative ,Mr Olugbenga  Akintola and host of others Welcoming the freshers into the institution, the Rector, Mr Gani Ogunhanusi in his speech advised them to be of good conduct and be conscious of people they associate with.  "Also you should be careful of what you see and watch and where you go to and always dress moderately  "Any Student found dressing indecently will be suspended and habit of a man plaiting hair is also prohibited inside the institution  Mr Ga...
Read more

Kogi APC Distances Self From Replacement Of National, Zonal Officers

Image
The Kogi State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissociated itself from news making the rounds that the National Working Committee of the party has  replaced the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party as well as the former Zonal Organising Secretary.  The two party Chieftains resigned recently.  However, the State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello in a statement said he was surprised that the NEC Committee came up with strange names which didn't pass through the state chapter.  The statement partly read, “Consequent upon the resignation of the two officers from the party, the Kogi State All Progressives Congress under the leadership of the Governor, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello, CON , met to ratify and forward names of replacements for the national and zonal officers that left the party.” “The State Chapter ratified Hon. Yahaya Ade Ismail as the new Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Isiaka Musa as the Zonal Or...
Read more

FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE:Governor Oborevwori PromisesMore Dividends of Democracy

Image
His Excellency, RT Hon (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, in continuation of the celebration of his "FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE"  on Thursday  14th , September 2023   Commissioned  the 2.6 km Okpolo/Enhwe/Uwheru  Road (Phase 2) amidst pomp and peagantry to the glory of God. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori the Delta Chief Executive in the course of Commissioning remarks stated that irrespective of the paucity of funds, the  State decided to embark on this Road Project due to the  fundamental need to mitigate the chalenges of perennial flooding in the Area. The Governor clarified and reaffirmed that his administration is  committed to giving equal attention to both Rural and Urban Roads in the State,  hence the recent  Exco approval of three flyovers to be constructed in Warri and Uvwie to   Check the problem of persistent traffic gridlock in Warri and Effurun  Metropolis...
Read more

Kogi guber: Federal High Court dismisses Smart Adeyemi's case against Ododo, APC, says it lacks merit

...Affirms Ododo's victory  ...'Will of a few can't override will of majority' - Court A Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday, dismissed a suit filed by an aspirant in the All Progressives Congress' governorship primaries in Kogi State, Senator Smart Adeyemi, against the emergence of the candidate of the party, Usman Ododo, saying it lacks merit.  Delivering judgement in the suit marked "FHC/CS/556/2023 Smart Adeyemi v. APC & 2 Ors", Justice J.K. Omotosho held that Adeyemi's allegations were criminal in nature, as he alleged that elections did not hold and that the produced results were forged.  He said the Applicant needed to prove the allegations of forgery, falsification of results, beyond reasonable doubts.  The court noted that the burden rests on the Applicant to produce the forged result or the original and the forged results to discharge the burden, adding that failure to discharge the burden "is fata...
Read more

Kogi: Anti-Corruption CSOs warn EFCC against cankerworms of previous management

Image
Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations, on Wednesday, warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede, to refrain from allowing "cankerworms of the previous management left in the system" rubbish his credentials as the Head of the Commission.  The over 300 anti-corruption activists, under seven broad frontline organisations, noted that it was pertinent for them to sound an early note of warning in view of the fact that the misuse of the EFCC by political gladiators, as a veritable tool of victimization and score-settling, which they thought had been tackled, was suddenly rearing its head again.  The anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations advised the EFCC boss to sit up and stop the Commission from being accessed by "political miscreants who think EFCC is an extension of their political structures to be manipulated at will." They specifically referred to the Kogi State Government's press statement, which was re...
Read more

Justice Iyasere For Udu Local Government Chairmanship: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Image
By Wilson Macaulay No power on earth, not even the strongest Army can conquer nor stop an idea whose time has come ----- Victor Hugo (The Future of Man) He was a French Poet , who lived in the early 19th Century.  In every Local Government electoral cycle, there are bound to be some unique features which makes the setting different from the trajectory known before. In the dynamic landscape of Udu Local Government, a figure has emerged with a vision, a track record of success, and a commitment to service.  Hon Justice Iyasere, the immediate past  Vice Chairman, epitomizes the essence of leadership, integrity, and dedication. With a distinguished career as a journalist before his foray into politics, Justice Iyasere brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the needs of the good people of udu kingdom. As a journalist, Justice Iyasere honed his skills in communication, investigative journalism  and advocacy. His commitment to truth and accoun...
Read more