A Federal High Court in Abuja, has granted the former governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, a bail of N100 million, which allows him leave detention, while his trial lasts.
Presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello, released the former governor on bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety who must own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
The surety is to deposit document for the property with the chief registrar of the court who is to verify the title of deeds.
The former governor was also ordered to deposit all his travelling documents with the chief registrar of the court, to ensure that he does not leave the country without the permission of the court.
The former Bayelsa state governor is standing trial for allegedly embezzling the sum of N4.45 billion from the Bayelsa state’s government treasury while he was in office.
Counsel to Sylva, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi welcomed the bail conditions, saying they are fair enough and will be fulfilled immediately.
While counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Festus Keyamo, also agreed that the conditions for the former governor’s bail are okay.
He stated that the commission is ready to proceed with the trial of the former governor with 10 witnesses already lined up to testify against the defendant.
Despite the bail, attempts by the defence counsel to stop the anti-graft operatives from returning the governor to their office met a brick wall as the officials insisted that his bail conditions must be fulfilled before he is set free.
