The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre and is back home after meeting the bail conditions set by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, said this in a short statement, on Friday.
“Yahaya Bello has been released after meeting the bail conditions and the Controller of NCoS FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was on the ground to ensure his smooth release and that all protocols were observed,” he said.
Justice MaryAnne Anenih granted bail to Bello on Thursday in the sum of N500 million.
The conditions included providing three sureties, each owning property in select high-value areas of Abuja, such as Maitama, Guzape, or Asokoro.
The court also ordered Bello to surrender his passport and restricted his travel outside Nigeria without prior permission.
The former governor and two others are facing fraud charges involving N110 billion allegedly diverted from the Kogi State government’s coffers.
Bello had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On December 10, Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and 30; and February 25 and 27, after declining Bello’s bail request on the grounds that the application was filed prematurely.
When the case was called for hearing on Thursday, Joseph Daudu, Bello’s counsel, informed the court that the defence counsels had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsels.
He, however, applied to withdraw the further affidavit.
The judge had earlier fixed 29 January 2025 for the commencement of trial in the case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, where Bello also faces N80 billion money laundering charges, has earlier granted him bail and fixed date for commencement of trial.