The Odovidi (traditional head) of Egbira speaking people resident in Kuje, the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Momohjimoh Abdulsalam, has paid a solidarity visit on the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello in the Kuje Correctional Center (prison).
The Chief was accompanied on the visit today, December 14, by some leaders, including an elder statesman and retired school principal, Alhaji Yakubu Ozi Salami; Editor-in-chief of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and Author of Standard Ebira English Dictionary, Yusuf Ozi-Usman; a Director in the services of the FCT Administration, Alhaji Yusuf Momohjimoh, a youth leader, Asana Abdulsalam and others.
The visit came about 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the former Governor bail in the sum of N500 million.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had, yesterday, December 13, granted the bail and ordered him to provide two sureties with landed property in Abuja and that the title documents for these property should be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court. The court said that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means.
It directed both Yahaya Bello and his sureties to submit recent passport photographs and to surrender his international passport, barring him from travelling outside Nigeria without court approval.
“I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the sum of N500 million and two sureties in like sum who must possess landed property in Abuja.”
The court directed that Yahaya Bello should remain in Kuje prison until the bail conditions are met.
The bail was granted without opposition from the EFCC, which left the decision at the court’s discretion.
The court scheduled February 24 and 28, 2025, for the commencement of the trial on the 19-count money laundering charges brought against the former Governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yahaya Bello had pleaded not guilty to allegations of N80.2 billion fraud.
Aides of the former Governor, friends and well-wishers swarmed Kuje prison today, on similar solidarity visit, offering prayers to him for quick return to his normal vibrant life.