The Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Thursday, granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Maryann Anenih had, on December 10, refused the ex-governor’s bail application, stating it was filed prematurely.
While delivering the initial ruling, she said that since the 1st defendant was neither in custody nor before the court at the time, the application was incompetent.
There was, however, room for the governor’s lawyers to file a fresh bail application and apply for a hearing date.
The former governor is facing an alleged money laundering trial involving N110 billion, along with two others.
He had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
When the case was called for hearing on Thursday, counsel for the former governor, Joseph Daudu, SAN, 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, stating, “We do not want to make the matter contentious.”
There was no objection from the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN.
