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Tag: Bail

  • FG arraigns ex-Benue gov, Suswam for illegal firearms possession, money laundering

    FG arraigns ex-Benue gov, Suswam for illegal firearms possession, money laundering

    …as court grants him N500m bail

    The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Friday arraigned a former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on fresh three charges of illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

    Suswam, who was produced from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.

    The court granted him bail in the sum of N500m.

    The case, filed on June 26, 2018, was the third criminal matter instituted against Suswam since he left office as Benue State Governor in 2015.

    One of the two other criminal cases involving the diversion of over N3bn of the state’s fund was instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The other, which also involves corruption allegations, was instituted by the AGF’s office.

    In the latest case, Suswam was accused in two of the three counts of illegally concealing weapons in his Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with registration number BWR 135 AH sometime on February 24, 2017.

    The car was said to be parked at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, located at 44, Aguiyi lronsi Way, Maitama, Abuja.

    The prosecution alleged that the offence violated Section 3 of the Firearms Act Cap F28, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1)(a)(1) of the same Act.

    He was also accused in one of the three counts of “converting 25 designer wrist watches worth several millions of naira being properties you derived directly from corruption and concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic with registration number BWR 135 AH.”

    The offence was said to be contrary to Section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    The court adjourned the case till October 24 and 25.

  • After two years in DSS detention, another competent court orders Dasuki’s release on bail

    …Lambasts FG for Disrespect to the Rule of Law

    After over two years in the detention of the Department of the State Security Service (DSS), a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to release former National Security Adviser (NSA) Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on bail.

    The reprieve for Dasuki who was clamped into detention since December 29, 2015, came in the judgement of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in the fundamental human right suit filed by the Ex-NSA.

    Dasuki who had been granted bail by four different High Courts in Nigeria and ECOWAS Court of Justice, in the suit argued by his counsel, Ahmed Raji, urged the court to compel the Federal Government to obey all court orders for his release from detention. In the latest judgement, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered that Dasuki be released on bail in the sum of N200million and two sureties in the like sum.

    The court said that one of the sureties must be a federal government employee with not less than grade level 16 who must submit to the court his letter of appointment and the last letter of his promotion to pave way for the release of Dasuki.

    In the event of a private person standing as the surety, the court held that the person must have landed property in Abuja and must submit before the court original of the property and must also swear to the affidavit of means.

    Besides, Justice Ojukwu said the surety must deposit N100 million with the registrar of the court and that the money would be returned to the surety at the end of the trial of the former NSA. Justice Ijeoma also ordered that the surety must submit to the court his recent passport photograph and that his residential address must be varied by the official of the court as part of the bail condition.

    In the judgement that lasted over one hour, Justice Ojukwu lambasted the Federal Government for unjustly arresting and detaining a Nigerian citizen for over two years without any justification contrary to the provision of the law.

    The court dismissed the claim of the security agency that Dasuki was being held in protective custody on the strength of the alleged arm and ammunition found in his house. Justice Ijeoma held that although Dasuki in the instance case had been charged to various courts on the issue, the law however presumed that the former NSA is innocent of the charges against him until the contrary is proved beyond reasonable doubt.

    The judge agreed with counsel to Dasuki Mr Ahmed Raji that Dasuki never shuns any invitation for interrogation by any of the security agencies adding that from the affidavit evidence of the former NSA, it was cleared that he had been detained since December 2015 without any investigation or interrogation.

    The judge also dismissed the claims of the Federal Government that Dasuki was being held on fresh allegations of money laundering, adding that such claims should go to the graveyard because it cannot be used to justify the detention of any Nigerian for as long as over two years without being charged to court on any fresh allegation.

    On another claim by the Federal Government that Dasuki was abusing court process by filing multiple cases in court, Justice Ijeoma dismissed the claim for being baseless and frivolous adding that in the instance case parties are different from the previous one and as such the issue of forum-shopping cannot be used against Dasuki.

    In the event of any plan to investigate Dasuki, Justice Ojukwu ordered that such investigation must be conducted during working days and that the former NSA must not be detained for whatever reason and also ordered that his travelling passport should remain with the court.

    The former NSA had dragged the Federal Government and its agencies before for the enforcement of his fundamental right to liberty claiming that he had been unlawfully detained since December 2015 without being charged top court.

    The former NSA demanded the sum of N5billion as exemplary damages for the breach of his fundamental right and the detention without trial for over two years. Although Justice Ojukwu agreed that the former NSA was illegally, unlawfully and unconstitutionally detained, she, however, did not award any damage against the Federal Government.

    Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji said that the judge has rekindled the hope of Nigerians in the judiciary and promise that his client would do anything humanly possible to perfect the bail condition within a reasonable time.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Plateau Governor Jonah Jang granted N100m bail

    A former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has been granted bail.

    Mr Jang is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, for allegedly stealing billions of naira of public funds while in office.

    He has been in prison for about one week based on a court order.

    He was granted bail on Thursday morning by high court judge Longji in Plateau State.

    The ex-governor, now a senator, was granted a bail of N100 million along with other conditions

    His co-accused was also granted bail.

     

    Details later…

  • Arms deal: FG re-arraigns Dasuki, Secondus, Metuh, others

    …as court grants Dasuki bail again

    The Federal Government on Wednesday re-arraigned former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, former publicity secretary of the party, Olisah Metuh and others over their alleged involvement in the arms fund diversion.

    However, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted fresh bail to Dasuki

    Dasuki was docked on 32 counts amended charges along with Aminu Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital.

    The four defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the 32 count charges.

    Apart from the dropping of former Director of Finance and Supply in the Office of the NSA, Salisu Shuaib, from the amended charge list, the charges were almost same with the old 18 count charges brought against the defendants by the federal government in 2015.

    Shortly after taking the plea of the defendants, the issue of bail was raised and counsel to Dasuki, Adeola Adedekpe, pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail in liberal terms in view of the fact that the defendants have been attending their trial since 2015.

    The counsel to the federal government, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, did not oppose the bail application.

    The trial Judge, Hussein Yusuf, however, ordered that Dasuki and other defendants be allowed to continue to enjoy the bail he granted them in 2015 when they were first arraigned before his court.

    It will be recalled that although other defendants were allowed to enjoy the earlier bail, Dasuki was however re-arrested in 2015 at the Kuje Prison shortly after perfecting his bail conditions and has since been kept in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) even after other courts granted him bails.

    Meanwhile, Justice Baba Yusuf has fixed July 3 and 5 for the trial of the defendants in the new charges.

    The federal government had on April 30 filled the new 32 amended count charges to replace the initial 18 count charges brought against 5 defendants in 2015 before the same court.

    In the amended charges coming barely one year to the general elections, names of prominent politicians from the opposition party were listed as beneficiaries of the alleged diversions.

    Apart from filing new charges with fresh names, a new twist was also introduced into the trial by government as a key defendant in the matter, Salisu Shuaib, who was a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA under Dasuki was dropped from the new charge.

    The amended charge was signed by Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    At Thursday’s re-arraignment, no reason was adduced on why the former Director of Finance in ONSA who served along with Dasuki was dropped from the trial having being arraigned together since 2015.

    Among top Nigerians alleged by the federal government to have collected money from the former NSA are the current National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; former Chairman Board of Trustee PDP, Tony Anenih; former PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; Iyorchia Ayu; Chairman AIT Raymond Dokpesi; Mouftah Baba-Ahmed; Bello Mohammed, Jonah Ogunniyi among others.

    Apart from individuals, corporate organizations were also named as beneficiaries in the new charges and they include AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organization Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited, Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited, Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited among others.

    It would be recalled that Dasuki, Salisu Shuaibu and three others were arraigned in 2015 on the same charge and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye granted N10m bail

    A High Court sitting in Lokoja has granted Senator Dino Melaye who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District, bail.

    Justice Nasir Ajana, who ruled on the bail application before a Lokoja High Court on Thursday (today) in Lokoja, based his ruling on the conviction as submitted by the defense counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to the effect that the continued incarceration of Senator Melaye will jeopardise his health condition, which he said was “deteriorating.”

    He also said that there was nothing to show that the applicant would jump bail if granted.

    Ajana therefore admitted Melaye to bail, with one surety for N10m.

    The embattled senator was not in court, as he was still on hospital admission in Abuja.

     

  • Man caught stealing pot of soup, gets N10,000 bail

    Man caught stealing pot of soup, gets N10,000 bail

    A 56-year-old man, Tajudeen Lateef, on Thursday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a food vendor’s shop and stealing pot of soup, and N10,000.

    Lateef, who resides at Atan near Ota in Ogun, is being tried for stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    But the Police Prosecutor, Sgt . Mike Unah insisted that the accused committed the offence on May 3 at No. 27, Isiaka St., Oko-Oba, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

    He said the accused broke into the shop of the complainant, Tawa Amusa, ransacked it and stole a pot of soup valued at N3,000, and N10,000.

    He also stole a phone valued at N3,000 belonging to Jamiu Onifade, Unah told the court.

    “The accused was, however, caught by some security guards who were near the scene”

    The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence carries a penalty of three years imprisonment.

    The Magistrate, Mr A.A. Fashola, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Fashola said the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case until May 28.

  • Court fixes date for hearing on Melaye’s bail application

    The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, Monday adjourned hearing for the hearing of the bail application of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), to (Thursday) May 10, 2018.

    This followed the inability of parties to submit their counter affidavit and “better” affidavit to the written bail application by Melaye’s counsel, when Justice Nasir Ajanah, last Friday, ordered that the lawmaker be transferred to the National Hospital Abuja.

    The prosecution led by Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), readied a counter affidavit to the written application for bail by Chief Mike Ezekhome (SAN), Melaye’s counsel, to which the latter had sought the court’s permission to file a “better” affidavit to the counter affidavit by the prosecution.

    Ajanah was to ask that a new date be picked to allow for the examination of written affidavits, none of which had been filed, as at the time of the sitting.

    The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Ajanah had adjourned for the continuation of hearing in the written bail application filled by the defense counsel, asking for variation of the remand order placed in Senator Melaye.

    This followed last Thursday’s refusal to grant bail to the lawmaker, when he was arraigned before the Senior Magistrate Court 2, sitting in Lokoja on a seven-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of fire arms.

    Ajanah had said that in view of the critical health conditions as espoused by the counsel to the applicant, he should be moved to the National Hospital, Abuja for proper medical attention.

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye arraigned, granted 100m bail

    The Nigerian Police on Wednesday arraigned the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye before a Magistrate Court, sitting in Wuse 2, Abuja.

    Senator Melaye was brought to court on a stretcher, under heavy security.

    Dino was arraigned before Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello based on a police First Information Report.

    The FIR stated on the 24th of April 2018, about 1330hrs at Area One round-about Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court that, “You Senator Dino Melaye of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while being conveyed in a Police White Hilux Bus with Registration number NPF 3354 D to Lokoja Kogi State to be arraigned in Court for Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms in Charge Number CMCL/14SC/2018 filed at the Chief Magistrate Court Lokoja, you Senator Dino Melaye intentionally broke the side windscreen of the Bux and jumped out of the bus after it was blocked by a Hilux Vehicle with registration number Kaduna MKA 603 GY occupied by your younger brother Samuel Melaye and one Barrister Amefula David Emeka and driven by yet to be unidentified person who escaped from the scene after the blockade.

    “You Senator Dino Melaye after breaking the side windscreen attempted to kill yourself by jumping out of the bus and fell on the ground and thereafter started shouting that you want to kill yourself and implicate the Police for your death.

    “That Police Officers who were escorting you in the bus tried to re-arrest you back to the bus but you resisted further arrest with the help of your brother Samuel Melaye and some lawyers in your company and further threatened to injure the Police officers if they try to further arrest you and you finally escaped from the scene in another Hilux vehicle.

    In view of the development, the police stated that Melaye had committed an offence punishable under Sections 148, 153, 172, 173, 231 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.

    After listening to the charge, Dino please not guilty.

    The prosecution counsel, Alex Izinyon SAN, demanded for dates for trial but Nkem Okoro, counsel representing Melaye, persuaded the court to hear his application for bail.

    Okoro argued that since the crime for which the Senator is being accused of is not a capital offence, “under the law, the defendant is entitled to bail.

    He relied on Section 162 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which sets out conditions to be considered before a bail application is granted or refused.

    On his part, the prosecution counsel told the court not to grant Dino bail.

    Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Segun-Bello said she had considered arguments for and against the application, and found out that under ACJA, “it is imperative to state that bail has been liberalised.

    The court stated that “taking a look at provision of Section 162 of ACJA, the prosecution counsel has not proven any reasonable apprehension that would warrant the court from denying the defendant bail.

    “The prosecution counsel has placed nothing before the court to show why the defendant should not be granted bail.

    “There is no evidence trendered before this court to substantiate the prosecution counsel’s claim that the defendant will jump bail, the Magistrate noted.

    In addition, the court held that the police counsel could not convince it on how the defendant is likely to influence prosecution witnesses in the cause of his trial if released on bail.

    Consequently, Magistrate Segun-Bello upheld the argument of Dino’s lawyer, and granted the defendant, bail to the tune of N90million with two sureties in likes sum.

    The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not lower than Great Level 14, and one must have easily identifiable residence in Abuja.

    Moreso, the court held that Dino must deposit his international passport with the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

    In addition, the magistrate ordered that Dino must report to the Wuse police command every working day of the week until same is altered by the court.

    At about 4:20pm, Dino was stretchered out of the courtroom under the watch of policemen armed to the teeth, into a waiting ambulance, under escort.

    The matter has been adjourned to June 6.

  • Court grants bail to alleged husband killer, Maryam Sanda

    Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, Jabi, on Wednesday granted bail to Maryam Sanda, who allegedly killed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello on Nov. 19, 2017.

    Bilyaminu was the son of Haliru Bello, former National Chairman of PDP.

    The judge granted the bail following a new motion filed before the court by her counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN).

    Halilu ordered Sanda to produce two sureties who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have a landed property in the FCT.

    The judge also ordered that the biological father of the defendant must sign an undertaking with the court to produce her on demand at every court sitting.

    Halilu adjourned the case until March 19 for hearing.

    In the motion, Dauda asked the court to consider the present health challenge of the defendant.

    He prayed the court to grant her bail, as the defendant’s health had deteriorated drastically since her arrest and detention on Nov.19.

    The counsel also said that the Suleja Prison where the defendant was kept has no adequate medical facilities to take care of her health challenge.

    He also drew the court’s attention that the defendant is pregnant and also carrying a nine-month old baby.

    Recall that the defendant was first arraigned in November 2017 for alleged culpable homicide and conspiracy alongside her mother, Mrs Maimuna Aliyu.

    Others are Aliyu Sanda, the brother and their housemaid Sadiya Aminu.

    The three others were granted bail on Dec. 14, 2017, but Maryam was denied bail and remanded in Suleja Prison.

  • JUST IN: FG arraigns Melaye over false assassination attempt, gets N100,000 bail

    The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned the Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on two counts of giving false information about an assassination attempt on his life to the Police in April 2017.

    Melaye was accused of falsely incriminating the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Edward Onoja David, in the said assassination attempt.

    The offences were said to be punishable under sections 140 and 393 of the Peal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.

    He pleaded not guilty to the two counts filed against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on January 31, 2018.

    Shortly after his plea, his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), moved his bail application filed on February 22, 2018.

    The bail application was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran.

    But in her bench ruling, the judge, Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, granted bail to the defendant after dismissing the prosecution’s opposition which she ruled was “based on inadmissible affidavit evidence.”

    The judge granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100,000, with one surety.

    The judge ruled that the surety to be provided by the senator must be a federal civil servant of at least Grade Level 14 in any federal parastatal or establishment.

    The surety must also provide proof to be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Melaye was accompanied to the Thursday’s proceedings by about 11 senators, including Senators Ben Murray-Bruce and Shehu Sani.