Justice Obiora, a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has granted bail to Ali Bello and three other defendants in a case involving an alleged N3 billion fraud, which was filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Despite the EFCC’s opposition to the bail request in a counter-affidavit, Justice Obiora ruled that the charges against the defendants were bailable and that it was necessary for them to have adequate time to prepare for their trial.
The case was brought before Justice Obiora after Bello, Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadai Sadat were arraigned on February 8, 2023, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja on an 18-count charge. They pleaded not guilty, and the hearing for their bail application was adjourned until February 13.
On that date, Justice Egwuatu ruled that he was inclined to grant bail to the defendants, and each one would have to pay N500 million with two sureties in the same amount. This ruling was based on the belief that the defendants would have sufficient financial resources to secure their attendance at trial, and that they would not pose a flight risk or interfere with the investigation.
