The immediate past governor of Kogi Yahaya Bello has begged a judge of the Federal High Court in Maitama Abuja to remove the possession of landed property in Maitama as one of the conditions for his bail.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Oricha and Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.
On Thursday, he was granted N500m with sureties who must own landed properties within Maitama – the court’s jurisdiction.
His counsel, J.B Dauda, SAN, argued that obtaining certificates of occupancy and other land title documents in Maitama was challenging because of the area’s peculiarities and appealed that the condition be removed from his client’s bail term.
“My Lord, most people who may be willing to stand as sureties are reluctant to part with their original title documents. Moreover, many buildings in Maitama are corporate establishments like Transcorp Hilton, and NCC among others.
“Therefore, we are pleading with this honourable court to consider other highbrow areas such as Asokoro, Wuse 2, Guzape, and others when granting bail to our client,” he said.
A statement by the EFCC in its official and verified X (former Twitter) account, said Daudu had earlier informed the court that the matter was slated for the hearing of Bello’s bail application.
“We filed our application yesterday, December 18, 2024, and the prosecution served a counter-affidavit the same day. We intend to focus on the trial, and for that, we need unrestricted access to the defendant to ensure he is fully prepared.
Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the charges against Bello are available, adding that there are critical documents that only his client can access.
“My Lord, the second and third defendants have already been granted bail, and if not for procedural delays, my client would have been granted bail as well,” he said.
In response, counsel for the prosecution, Olukayode Enitan SAN, did not oppose the bail application, revealing that the defence had already communicated with the prosecuting team.
In her ruling, Justice Anenih granted Bello 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, or Asokoro.
The judge also ordered Bello to deposit his passport and other travel documents with the court registrar and directed that he remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Kuje, until his bail conditions are met.
Two other defendants standing trial alongside Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had their bail conditions varied.
The judge reduced their bail sum from N300m to N200m and further ordered that they could get landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court that had the same values as the bail sum.
Justice Anenih adjourned the hearing on the substantive suit till January 29, 2025.
