Earlier this week, a video circulated from Ex senator Dino Melaye where he shared his music skills mocking the former governor of Kogi State Yayaha Bello. The former senator spoke about the prophecy he gave 6 years ago of Yayaha Bello going to jail. This was in response to the news that Mr. Bello would not be getting any bail.
When we talk about you don’t know tomorrow?
It defines the update of Mr Bello’s bail. Mr Bello was charged of 19 different cases of money laundering with the total amount of 82 billion naira. Yesterday it was announced that, He has been granted bail. This was after he was denied bail due to incompetence. It was indeed a surprising news.
The court granted Bello bail of the sum of 500 million naira with two surieties in like sum. EFCC’s counsel Kemi Peinhero SAN told the court of the prosecution’s decision to withdraw the previous request for a fast paced indictment, with the court also granting the request.
He stated, “I have great respect for my learned counsel, who was a past president of the NBA. I confirm we have been discussing how to ease the pressure on your lordship.
My Lord, we are prosecutors, not persecutors, and the EFCC is a prosecutorial commission, not a prosecutorial commission.”
Mr Bello’s defence counsel explained Bello’s absence from previous hearing. He also requested bail pending the hearing and determination of charges. He also assures the court that Mr Bello would be around for both his trials.
He said “My Lord, it was not willful disrespect. He acted with the belief that he was defending himself as best as possible. He holds this court in high esteem, and we all do. This episode could have been avoided, but it has passed, and things are clearer now. We mean no harm to this court.
“Secondly, my Lord, and I say this with every sense of responsibility, having regard to the positions I have held in this profession, the governor, as a two-term governor of Kogi State, who travelled abroad only twice during his eight years, will appear on all trial days. I give my word that he will not jump bail”
Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial Judge stated that bail is granted. He granted the bail with surieties.
He said, “I have listened to the application from both counsels. First off, bail is at the discretion of the court, whether the bail is opposed or supported. Ordinarily, based on the antecedents of this case, particularly the conduct exhibited by the defendant, I would have reconsidered the application made by the learned senior counsel for the defendant. However, based on the detour exhibited by the learned senior counsel for the defendant, J.B. Daudu (SAN), which was reciprocated by the learned senior counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), I am inclined to depart from our earlier position on this matter.
“In view of the foregoing, I am prepared to grant the application made by both counsel. I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the following terms: One—bail is granted to the defendant in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in the like sum. The two sureties shall own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court, Abuja.”
Activist Awoyele Showore had this to say concerning Mr Bello’s case on his official X account.
“Yahaya Bello is granted bail and is the instant hero in the courtroom! Just loot enough to bankrupt the poor and enrich the elites; you then become the hero of the poor and the rich. NIGERIA is a paradise for thieves.”
The activist shared his dissatisfaction concerning how the case was handled. What do you think about all of this?
Edited by: Oladeji Olabisi
