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₦80.2bn Fraud: Court Grants Yahaya Bello ₦500m Bail
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
This was after the former governor had pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N80bn but pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
When the case was called for hearing on Friday, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
He said the application had been overtaken by events. The defendant’s counsel, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Emeka Nwite accordingly granted the request.
After the defendant had taken his plea, Daudu, SAN, made clarifications on the reasons he had not been in court during the previous hearings.
“I would like to place on record that for any impression that might have been created that the defendant did not wish to appear before your lordship, coincidentally, the ruling on my lord’s sitting this morning dealt with the issue of jurisdiction.
“What the defendant did was to ask his counsel to challenge the jurisdiction of the court, which got to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“So it was not wishful disrespect, but he was only trying to defend himself. So we all hold your lordship in high esteem. If that impression must have been, he should not have presented himself for arraignment. That episode is gone, and things are clearer now,” the counsel stated.
While moving an application for bail, he assured that the former governor would always be present in court for the trial.
“I am saying this with the highest sense of responsibility that the defendant, a two-term governor of Kogi State who travelled only two times out of his eight years in service, will always be present in court at all times.
“There should be no apprehension that he will jump bail. So we urge your lordship to grant us very reasonable conditions of bail such that he will be able to bear,” the defendant’s counsel said.
He commended the prosecution counsel, saying he had conducted himself in the best tradition because the matter was not a do-or-die one.
He said they had agreed that the counsels would not stress his lordship over the issue of bail.
The prosecution counsel concurred.
Pinheiro, SAN, said, “I must express my honour to the very eminent lead senior counsel. He is a man of immense stature, not because of his size.
“I do respect him as former president of NBA. I also confirm that we have been engaging in a series of discussions to ease the burden on your lordship in compliance with Rule 26 of the Rules of Professional Ethics.
“I also note that your lordship had delivered not less than five rulings in this matter and it is our aim to ease the work. We are prosecutors, not persecutors, and EFCC is a professional commission, a prosecutorial, and not prosecutorial commission,” he said.
He added, “We accept the assurances of the very eminent SAN that the defendant will make himself available subject to your lordship’s discretionary terms that may be imposed.
“By so doing, we will ease the burden on the court. Therefore, we will not be opposing the eminent SAN’s submission.”
The prosecution counsel said though they had filed a counter-affidavit, they would not oppose the bail, going by the assurances of the learned SAN.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite said, “I have listened to the submissions of both counsels. It is not in dispute that both counsels have filed applications in respect of this.
“Based on the account exhibited by learned counsel for the defendant, which was exhibited and supported by prosecution counsel, I am minded to change my earlier stand on this matter.”
He granted the defendant N500 million bail with two sureties.
“Sureties must be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of this court. They must swear to affidavits of means. The title deeds of properties to be verified by the court registrar,” he said.
The defendant was also asked to submit his international passport, and he would remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
It will be recalled that the ex-governor was earlier remanded in a fresh N110bn charge by EFCC, pending his bail application.
Meanwhile, the judge has fixed February 24, 2025, for hearing into the matter.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have released Ogun State-based pastor Kayode Olawoye and two of his associates, Johnson Idowu and Korede Oluwadare, following intense public outcry.
Olawoye became an internet sensation following his exposé on the poor state of some roads in Ogun State, which he had repeatedly drawn to the attention of the state government.
A family source close to Olawoye confirmed his release in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday.
In an earlier interview with our correspondent, Olawoye’s family had raised concerns over his detention after he was allegedly invited by the DSS.
Speaking with PUNCH correspondent earlier on Tuesday, Olawoye’s wife, Shola Olawoye, said her husband received a phone call from the DSS on Sunday evening, asking him to report to its Ogun State office by 2 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026.
According to her, the officials described the invitation as a “friendly interrogation visit,” assuring him that it was nothing serious.
She said Olawoye arrived at the DSS office at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday but was held without family members having access to him, adding that several efforts made to reach him proved abortive.
She also noted that two other associates, Benjamin Olaleye and Joshua, who accompanied him to the DSS office, were also detained.
“I have not been able to speak with him since he entered the office. I don’t know his condition—whether he has eaten or even taken water. The people who went with him also had their phones seized, and we have not heard from any of them,” she said.
Shola said that while she was at the DSS office to inquire about her husband’s welfare, she was told to leave and return later, with assurances that he would be released after questioning.
She added that she waited until late Monday night and into Tuesday morning without receiving any update on his status, adding that the detention may be linked to his continued advocacy for the improvement of road infrastructure across the state.
She continued, “This is a man who is fighting for grassroots governance. He is not a criminal. He is not fighting or abusing the governor. He is not anti-politics, anti-peace, or protesting. He is simply saying, ‘Our governor should fulfil his campaign promises.’ That is all he is doing, and I don’t understand when being civil became a crime in my state.
“I do not know when being civil and asking for your rights turned into a criminal offence. He has been detained as if he were a criminal. Bandits are on TikTok and everywhere, yet the DSS has not detained any of them.
But they have detained my husband since yesterday. It has been almost 24 hours now, and I have not heard anything from him. I need the help of the whole of Nigeria.”
Another family member, who did not want to be named, explained that Olawoye had been invited on two occasions in the past and had always honoured the invitations.
The family source said this was the third time Olawoye had been invited by the DSS, adding that during previous visits, he was questioned about his public commentary on the condition of roads in Ogun State.
The source alleged that DSS officials had repeatedly asked whether he was sponsored to publicise poor road infrastructure in the state, an allegation Olawoye denied, maintaining that he had no sponsor.
“The first time he was invited, I was with him at the meeting. They asked who was sponsoring him to showcase the bad roads that Governor Dapo is not fixing. He replied that nobody was sponsoring him and that he was instructed by God to speak out about the bad roads so that the governor would fix them.
“The second time, they asked him the same question again—that he should name the people sponsoring him. He told them nobody was sponsoring him,” the family member said.
The news of his detention, however, sparked public outcry, with social media users condemning the action.
Reacting to the detention, Amnesty International Nigeria, condemned Olawoye’s detention in a statement on Tuesday.
The human rights advocacy group described the detention as unlawful and abuse of human rights.
The statement read, “The Nigerian authorities must end the incessant intimidation and harassment of Pastor Kayode Olawoye — a cleric widely known for advocating for better road infrastructure in Ogun State.
“Subjecting such a peaceful advocate for good governance to bizarre intimidation by the Department Of State Services is unlawful. The advocacy of Pastor Kayode is justified given the shocking and deplorable state of roads in Ogun — his state. Criticizing Gov. Dapo Abiodun is not crime.
“The authorities have an obligation to uphold and protect fundamental human rights. Instead of investing in desperate attempts to punish activists, the government should be listening to them and doing more to addressing people’s concerns.”
In an update on Tuesday night, the family source told our correspondent that Olawoye and the two associates who were with him had been released.
The source said, “Mr Olawoye and the two associates have been released. They were freed on Tuesday night after more than 24 hours in detention.”
Meanwhile, when contacted on Tuesday, the State Director of the DSS in Ogun State, Peter Afunanya, did not respond to messages sent to his line, nor did he pick calls placed to him as of the time of filing this report.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, asked our correspondent to call back when contacted on Tuesday.
He was, however, not reachable as of the time of filing this report.
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, has launched an upgraded version of its mobile banking platform, Unifi, as part of ongoing efforts to improve customer experience on the Bank’s digital Banking platform and reinforce its proposition in ebusiness.
The latest update, Unifi version 2.3, introduces a suite of improved features designed to enhance usability, security, and convenience for customers. Key upgrades include enhanced security protocols, expanded quick-action functionalities, improved bill payment options, and an updated Nigeria Quick Response (NQR) feature to support faster and more secure QR code transactions.
A key aspect of the rollout builds on the Bank’s continued investment in digital and security infrastructure, aimed at safeguarding customer data, ensuring secure payments and enabling safe, real-time transactions across channels.
Speaking on the upgrade, Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail, SME, Digital Banking & Fintech Partnerships at Unity Bank, said the improvements are built on the back of continuous interrogation of the platform to be more responsive to customer feedbacks which are being received overtime in our interactions and engagements.
“Digital banking has become an integral part of everyday life, particularly for retail customers who expect speed, dependability, convenience, and security as standard. With the latest upgrade to Unifi, we are responding directly to these expectations by enhancing functionality, strengthening security, and simplifying key payment and transaction journeys. Our goal is to ensure that customers can carry out their banking activities seamlessly, confidently, and without friction, anytime and anywhere.”
She added that the Bank remains committed to continuous improvement of its digital channels in line with evolving customer needs and emerging industry trends.
“As mobile banking increasingly defines how people interact with financial services, Unifi is central to our strategy of delivering intuitive, reliable, and inclusive digital solutions. We will continue to invest in technology partnerships and platform enhancements that support financial inclusion, drive adoption, and improve overall customer experience.”
Originally introduced as part of Unity Bank’s strategic push to expand its retail footprint, particularly among young and digitally savvy customers, Unifi has grown into a core engine of the Bank’s retail banking expansion. The platform plays a critical role in driving customer acquisition, deepening engagement, and reinforcing Unity Bank’s broader digital transformation agenda.
The Unifi mobile app is available for download on Android and iOS devices, offering customers access to a wide range of services, including transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, and QR-enabled transactions.
Nigeria’s banking sector is being reshaped by one of the most ambitious recapitalisation programmes in its history.
If you bank, invest, or do business in Nigeria, understanding how this works and where each bank stands matters.
In 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria raised minimum capital requirements and introduced three banking “tiers”: regional, national, and international.
Banks have until March 31, 2026, to comply.
Here’s what that means:
International banks need ₦500bn in paid-up capital
National banks need ₦200bn
Regional banks need ₦50bn
Paid-up capital is key. Retained earnings don’t count.
Several banks, including Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, and First Bank of Nigeria, have already met the ₦500bn threshold and secured international licences.
Others, such as Stanbic IBTC, Citibank Nigeria, and Wema Bank, have secured national licences and appear focused on domestic operations.
First City Monument Bank, a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, sits between these groups. In 2024, it raised ₦147.5bn in a public offer, pushing its banking subsidiary above ₦200bn in paid-up capital and securing its national licence. That means FCMB’s core banking operations are not at risk under the new rules.
The bank is now raising additional capital to reach the ₦500bn mark required for an international licence.
This includes further share sales and shareholder-approved funding options. Regulatory review is ongoing.
Why does this matter to customers? A bank’s licence affects what it can do.
International banks can finance cross-border trade and large projects. National banks focus on domestic lending. Both are viable models.
For FCMB customers, the national licence already ensures continuity.
The international licence would expand services beyond Nigeria into the rest of Africa and the world.
The recapitalisation is also driving mergers, downgrades, and niche strategies across the sector, making Nigeria’s banking system more structured and transparent.
By 2026, the system will be stronger, not because every bank has become international, but because each has chosen a sustainable path.
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