On Friday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court admitted former Governor Yahaya Bello to a N500 million bail with two sureties posting similar bond.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, ordered that the two sureties must be landed property owners within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr Nwite ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, which the court registrar must verify.

The judge, who ordered the former governor to submit his international passport to the court, directed the sureties to submit two copies of their passport photographs each equally.

He ordered the defendant to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until February 24 to 28 and March 6 to 7, 2025, for trial.

Earlier, Mr Bello pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charge brought against him by the EFCC. The ex-governor is facing an alleged money laundering trial of N80 billion.

When the case was called for a hearing on Friday, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro notified the court of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said events had overtaken the application.

The former governor’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, did not object, and the judge granted the request.

After the defendant had made his plea, Mr Daudu clarified why he had not been in court during the previous hearings.

“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 a 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 would not have presented himself for arraignment. That episode is gone, and things are clearer now,” he said.

While moving a bail application, Daudu 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,” he added.

He commended the prosecution counsel, saying he had conducted himself in the best tradition because the matter was not a do-or-die one. He said they had agreed that the counsel would not stress the court over the issue of bail.

The prosecution counsel concurred.

Responding, Mr Pinheiro also thanked Mr Daudu for his assurance.
He confirmed that both lawyers had discussed the defendant’s bail issue.

“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 president of NBA. I also confirm that we have been engaging in series of discussions to ease the burden on your lordship in compliance with Rule 26 of 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. So EFCC is a professional commission; a prosecutorial and not persecutorial commission,” he said.

The lawyer 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.”

Mr Pinheiro said though they had filed a counter-affidavit, they would not oppose the bail, going by the assurances of Mr Daudu.

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 the bail application.”

He said the defendant’s and the prosecution’s rights must be considered when granting bail. The judge held that having not opposed the bail plea, he was minded to change his earlier stand on the matter.

The ex-governor was earlier, on Tuesday, remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre by the Abuja High Court on a fresh N110 billion charge by EFCC, pending his bail application.

(NAN)