FCT High Court Admits Kogi "White Lion," Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello To N500m Bail
The Federal Capital High Court, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anenih, has granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.
The Federal Capital High Court, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anenih, has granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.
Justice Anenih had on December 10, 2024, refused the application for for bail to Bello's a.k.a White Lion, saying it was filed prematurely.
In his earlier ruling, Anenih said that the application was incompetent, having been filed when the 1st defendant was neither in custody nor before the court.
There was, however, room for the governor’s lawyers to file a fresh application for bail and apply for hearing date.
Bello who is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N110bn, along with two others, had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Counsel for the former governor, Joseph Daudu, SAN, har informed the court, during the day’s proceedings, that the defence counsel had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsel.
There was no objection from the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN and the court, therefore, granted the application for withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.
Daudu also further informed the court that discussions had taken place with the head of the prosecution counsel, resulting in an agreement to ensure a speedy trial, following which he urged the court to grant the bail application.
He further requested that if the court would grant Bello bail, the court should kindly review the bail conditions for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, even as he urged the
court to broaden the scope of properties to be used as bail sureties to include locations across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, instead of limiting the location solely to Maitama.
Replying, the prosecution counsel, Enitan acknowledged that Daudu had been in talks with the prosecution team and gave assurance of their cooperation in expediting the trial in line with the Rules of Professional Conduct, RPC.
His words, “I confirm the evidence given by the distinguished member of the bar that is leading the Defence, 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.”
In her ruling, Justice Anenih acknowledged that the offence the 1st defendant was charged with was bailable and granted the ex-governor bail in the sum of N500 million, with three sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be notable Nigerians with landed property in Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki and Asokoro.
Bello was also asked to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court as well as remain at Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions were met.
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