The Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail on Friday to Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, in the amount of ₦500 million, requiring two sureties of equal value.
This decision followed the former governor’s plea of not guilty to the 19 charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is accused of involvement in a money laundering case amounting to ₦80 billion, to which he has also pleaded not guilty.
During the hearing on Friday, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, representing the EFCC, informed the court of the prosecution’s intention to withdraw a previous application aimed at shortening the arraignment date.
He indicated that the application was no longer relevant due to changing circumstances. The defence counsel, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not oppose this motion, and Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request.
Following the defendant’s plea, Daudu, SAN, provided explanations regarding his absence from prior court sessions.
“I would like to place on record that for any impression that might have been created that the defendant did not wish to appear before your lordship, coincidentally, the ruling on my lord’s sitting this morning dealt with the issue of jurisdiction.
“What the defendant did was to ask his counsel to challenge the jurisdiction of the court, which got to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“So it was not wishful disrespect, but he was only trying to defend himself. So we all hold your lordship in high esteem. If that impression must have been, he should not have presented himself for arraignment. That episode is gone, and things are clearer now,” the counsel stated.
While moving a bail application, he assured that the former governor would always be present in court for the trial.
“I am saying this with the highest sense of responsibility that the defendant, a two-term governor of Kogi State who travelled only two times out of his eight years in service, will always be present in court at all times.
“There should be no apprehension that he will jump bail. So we urge your lordship to grant us very reasonable conditions of bail such that he will be able to bear,” the defendant’s counsel said.
He praised the prosecution counsel for demonstrating exemplary conduct, noting that the case was not one of life and death.
He mentioned that there was a mutual understanding among the counsels to avoid burdening his lordship regarding the bail matter.
The prosecution counsel agreed with this approach.
Pinheiro, SAN, said, “I must express my honour to the very eminent lead senior counsel. He is a man of immense stature, not because of his size.
“I do respect him as former president of NBA. I also confirm that we have been engaging in a series of discussions to ease the burden on your lordship in compliance with Rule 26 of the Rules of Professional Ethics.
“I also note that your lordship had delivered not less than five rulings in this matter and it is our aim to ease the work. We are prosecutors, not persecutors, and EFCC is a professional commission, a prosecutorial, and not prosecutorial commission.”
He added, “We accept the assurances of the very eminent SAN that the defendant will make himself available subject to your lordship’s discretionary terms that may be imposed.
“By so doing, we will ease the burden on the court. Therefore, we will not be opposing the eminent SAN’s submission.”
The prosecution counsel said though they had filed a counter-affidavit, they would not oppose the bail, going by the assurances of the learned SAN.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite said, “I have listened to the submissions of both counsels. It is not in dispute that both counsels have filed applications in respect of this.
“Based on the account exhibited by learned counsel for the defendant, which was exhibited and supported by the prosecution counsel, I am minded to change my earlier stand on this matter.”
He granted the defendant N500 million bail with two sureties.
“Sureties must be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of this court. They must swear to affidavits of means. The title deeds of properties to be verified by the court registrar,” he said.
The defendant was required to present his international passport and will continue to be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are fully met.
It is important to note that the former governor was remanded in connection with a new charge of N110 billion brought by the EFCC, awaiting the outcome of his bail application.
In addition, the judge has scheduled a hearing for this case on February 24, 2025.