After thoroughly reviewing the court’s bail conditions on the N110 billion money laundering suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Kogi State former governor, Yahaha Bello, has requested that the Federal High Court in Abuja remove the requirement that his sureties must be property owners in Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before leaving the Kuje prison.
Bello argued that obtaining Certificates of Occupancy and other title documents for properties in Maitama is challenging due to the peculiarities of the area, appealing that the court accept
The former governor, who made the plea on Thursday through his counsel, Joseph Daudu, after the court granted his bail request with stringent conditions reeled out by the judge during proceedings.
Granting the former governor’s bail requests, Justice Maryann Anenih mandated that Bello present a N500 million bail bound with three sureties in like sum and must be influential 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. She further directed that he remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Kuje, until his bail conditions are met.
After the ruling, Justice Anenih adjourned hearing on the substantive suit till January 29, 2025, when all parties would be allowed to argue over the case to favour their plans.
Earlier, Bello through his counsel said: “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, 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 added.
Daudu informed the court that the matter was slated for the hearing of Bello’s bail application. Explaining, he told the court, “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.
The charges against him are bailable. Moreover, there are critical documents that only he 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 Eniton SAN, did not oppose the bail application.
“I confirm that the learned senior counsel, Daudu, has been in communication with the prosecution team. Based on the assurance that the defendant will stand trial, barring unforeseen circumstances, we are willing to defer to your lordship’s discretion regarding the terms and conditions of bail,” he said.
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.
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.
