Yahaya Bello begs court, says ‘my people’ in Maitama unwilling to part with property documents

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, to ease the requirement of presenting landed property in Maitama as part of his bail conditions.

Bello, represented by his lawyer, J.B. Daudu SAN, made this appeal on Thursday, December 19, 2024, before Justice Maryann Anenih.

Daudu argued that the peculiar nature of Maitama makes it difficult to secure Certificates of Occupancy and other property title documents, even for those willing to act as sureties.

“My Lord, most people who may be willing to stand as sureties are reluctant to part with their original title documents. Moreover, many buildings in Maitama are corporate establishments like Transcorp Hilton and NCC, among others. Therefore, we are pleading with this honourable court to consider other highbrow areas such as Asokoro, Wuse 2, Guzape, and others when granting bail to our client,” Daudu said.

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During the hearing, Daudu informed the court that Bello’s bail application had been filed on December 18, 2024, with the prosecution serving a counter-affidavit the same day. He emphasized the need for unrestricted access to Bello to facilitate his defense.

“The charges against him are bailable. Moreover, there are critical documents that only he can access. My Lord, the second and third defendants have already been granted bail, and if not for procedural delays, my client would have been granted bail as well,” Daudu stated.

The prosecution’s counsel, Olukayode Eniton SAN, did not oppose the bail application.

“I confirm that the learned senior counsel, Daudu, has been in communication with the prosecution team. Based on the assurance that the defendant will stand trial, barring unforeseen circumstances, we are willing to defer to your lordship’s discretion regarding the terms and conditions of bail,” Eniton said.

In her ruling, Justice Anenih granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum. The sureties must be prominent Nigerians with landed properties in Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki, or Asokoro.

The judge also ordered Bello to surrender his passport and travel documents to the court registrar and remain in custody at the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre in Kuje until he meets the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, the judge varied the bail conditions for Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, reducing their bail sum from N300 million to N200 million. They were permitted to present properties within the court’s jurisdiction that matched the value of the bail amount.

Bello, Oricha, and Hudu are facing a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N110.4 billion.

Justice Anenih adjourned the hearing on the substantive suit until January 29, 2024.