Alleged N80.2b fraud: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail

Bello was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust.

By Deborah Hassan

365Daily – The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N500 million bail to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Bello was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust after he turned himself in for prosecution following several months of evading arrest.

Filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, the charges allege that Bello diverted over ₦80.2 billion belonging to Kogi State to acquire properties in Nigeria and abroad through proxies.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ruling on his bail application on Friday, December 13, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite admitted Bello to bail at N500m with two sureties in like sum.

The judge added that the sureties must have property within the court’s jurisdiction, which is Maitama, and should be verified by a Deputy Registrar of the Court.

Justice Nwite also ordered Bello to deposit his international passport with the court and to be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja until he meets the bail conditions.

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