Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, was granted ₦500 million bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 13, 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Bello with 19 counts of money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement of ₦80.2 billion during his service from 2015 to 2023.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered Bello to produce two sureties who owned real estate within the court’s boundaries. Bello must also provide recent passport photos and an affidavit of means and deposit his international passport with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.
He will be placed under remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja until these requirements are fulfilled.
Bello entered a not-guilty plea to all of the accusations, including conspiracy to convert money and conducting illegal transactions using foreign currency and billions of naira. Further dates for the trial are set for February 24 and 28, as well as March 6 and 7, 2025.
Bello and his friends reportedly planned to convert over ₦80 billion, which they knew was the proceeds of illegal operations, specifically criminal breach of trust, according to the EFCC’s accusations.
