The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre after meeting the bail conditions set by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, said this in a terse statement issued on Friday.
Duza said: “Yahaya Bello has been released after meeting the bail conditions and the Controller of NCoS FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was on the ground to ensure his smooth release and that all protocols were observed.”
The Eagle Online recalls that Justice MaryAnne Anenih granted bail to Bello on Thursday in the sum of N500 million.
The former governor, as a part of the bail conditions, will provide three sureties, each owning property in select high-value areas of Abuja such as Maitama, Guzape, or Asokoro; surrender his international passport; and not travel outside Nigeria without permission.
Bello and two others were dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of diverting N110 billion from the coffers of the Kogi State government.
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The EFCC filed 16-count charges against the trio, with Bello pleading not guilty.
On December 10, Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and 30; and February 25 and 27, after declining Bello’s bail request on the grounds that the application was filed prematurely.
When the case was called for hearing on Thursday, Joseph Daudu, Bello’s counsel, informed the court that the defence had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsels.
He applied to withdraw the further affidavit.
The judge had earlier fixed 29 January 2025 for the commencement of trial in the case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, where Bello also faces N80 billion money laundering charges, has earlier granted him bail and fixed a date for the commencement of trial.
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