The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, N500 million bail in the 16-count money laundering charges instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Bello had pleaded not guilty before Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday following his arraignment by the EFCC.

Bello and others were accused of conspiring in February 2016 to convert N80,246,470,088.88, allegedly obtained through a criminal breach of trust, in violation of Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.

