••••Former Governor Pleads Not Guilty To N80.2bn Fraud Charge
James Harrison and Kamsi Anayo
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday granted bail to a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million with two sureties in the same sum.
Justice Emeka Nwite who delivered the ruling held that the two sureties must owners of landed properties in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite stated that granting of the bail was at the discretion of the court.
Bello, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The charge borders on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion.
After the charge was read to him, Bello responded that he was not guilty of all 18 counts.
When the case was called for hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
He said the application had been overtaken by events.
However, the defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request.
The court fixed the next trial date for February 24, 2024.
