A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, granted N500m bail to the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is being tried for alleged N10.4bn fraud.
Presiding judge, Justice MaryAnne Anenih ordered the ex-governor to deposit his passport, ruling that he cannot travel out of the country except with the permission of the court.
Bello, alongside Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, is facing 16 counts bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 27 but pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge had on December 10 rejected Bello’s original bail application, holding that it was premature and unprocedural, having been filed before the ex-governor was arrested or brought before the court.
Justice Anenih, however, granted bail to the co-defendants in the sum of N300m each and adjourned the matter till January 29 and 30 for trial.