The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. This was after the former Governor had pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He is facing alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N80bn but pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Galaxy Television reports that when the case was called for hearing, on Friday, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of the intention of the Prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events. The Defendant's Counsels, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object and Justice Emeka Nwite, accordingly granted the request. After the Defendant had taken his plea, Daudu SAN made clarifications on the reasons he had not been in court during the previous hearings.

While moving an application for bail, he assured that the former Governor would always be present in court for the trial. He commended the Prosecution Counsel, saying he had conducted himself in the best tradition because the matter was not a do-or-die one. He said they had agreed that the counsels would not stress his lordship over the issue of bail.

The Prosecution Counsel said though they had filed a counter-affidavit, they would not oppose the bail, going by the assurances of the learned SAN. Ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite said having listened to both parties; it is not in dispute that both counsels have filed applications in respect of this.

He granted the Defendant N500 million bails with two sureties. The two Sureties, according to the court, must be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of this court adding that, they must swear to affidavit of means while the title deeds of priority to be verified by the court registrar.

The Defendant was also asked to submit his international passport while he would remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions. Recall that the ex-governor was earlier remanded in a fresh N110bn charge by the EFCC, pending his bail application.