Yahaya Bello: Nigeria a paradise of thieves – Sowore

Activist politician, Omoyele Sowore on Friday described Nigeria as a paradise for thieves.

Sowore was commenting on the reaction within the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja, after former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, was granted bail.

The Abuja Federal High Court had granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

This was after Bello pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Bello has been slammed with an N80 billion money laundering charge.

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When the case was called for hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events. Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object and Justice Emeka Nwite accordingly granted the request.

After Bello had taken his plea, Daudu made clarifications on the reasons he had not been in court during the previous hearings.

Eventually, Justice Nwite granted the former governor bail in the sum of N500 million.

Reacting, Sowore lamented that Bello became a hero within the courtroom after the judge granted him bail.

Posting on X, Sowore wrote: “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.”