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Tag: Bail

  • Alleged N544m fraud: Court grants former SGF Babachir Lawal, three others bail

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday granted bail to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

    Lawal and others are facing charges of corruption. The ex-government secretary was indicted for allegedly using his companies to get contracts worth millions of naira in the North-east without executing the contracts.

    He was removed from office after he was indicted by a Senate committee which investigated the management of funds meant to assist the Boko-Haram ravaged North-east.

    Since his removal in 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians have called for his prosecution.

    Lawal has since his exit been a major campaigner for Mr Buhari’s re-election in his home Adamawa State.

    Ruling on the bail application on Wednesday, the judge, Jude Okeke, said the crime for which the defendant is charged “is bailable.”

    As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendants pay N50 million each with one surety in like sum.

    “The sureties must be residents of the FCT and must own landed property.

    “The sureties must also provide evidence of tax paid in the last three years.

    “Pending compliance to the aforementioned conditions, the applicants are to remain in the EFCC custody,” Mr Okeke added.

    The court further noted that each of the defendants is to deposit his international passport with the court pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

    Okeke adjourned to March 18 for the commencement of trial.

    The EFCC had filed charges against Mr Lawal and Hamidu David, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John and two companies Rholavision engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

  • BREAKING: Court grants Dino Melaye bail on ground of ill-health

    BREAKING: Court grants Dino Melaye bail on ground of ill-health

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail to Senator Dino Melaye currently being held in a police health facility in Abuja.

    According to a ruling on an application by Dino Melaye, argued by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) Justice Yusuf Halilu granted bail to Melaye on ground of ill-health.

     

    Justice Halilu was of the view the Senator must be healthy to stand trial.

    He noted that since the Senator cannot be arraigned on the stretcher or ‎on his hospital bed, he should be allowed on bail to focus on his health

    The judge asked him to produce three sureties, one of who must be the Clerk of the National Assembly, who must undertake to produce him when he is to be arraigned in respect of a charge already filed against him.

    The judge said the other two sureties must be owners of properties within the Abuja environ.

     

    Details later…

  • Alleged fraud: NBA President docked, gets bail

    Alleged fraud: NBA President docked, gets bail

    …Court rejects request to transfer case to Abuja

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the President of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ), Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), at the Federal High Court, Lagos, for an alleged N1.4billion fraud.

    Usoro pleaded not guilty to a 10-count charge of fraudulent conversion of N1.4bn said to belong to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    The NBA President’s arraignment followed Justice Muslim Hassan’s rejection of his application for the case to be transferred to Abuja.

    The case continues on February 5

    Details later…

     

  • EFCC releases Doyin Okupe on bail

    A former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan Doyin Okupe, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC).

    The PDP had on Monday night by its spokesman, Kolapo Ologbondiyan on his official twitter handle announced the arrest of the former presidential aide.

    Recall that the EFCC had on the 9th of December summoned Okupe for documentation ahead of his arraignment in court over alleged N162million illicit payments to him and his companies by a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Chanchaga Local Government Area in Niger State.

    Doyin on his official twitter handle on Wednesday night announced his release by EFCC.

    He said, “The EFCC released me on bail tonight within 48 hours as stipulated by law. I was treated with utmost courtesy. I feel proud and grateful”.

     

  • Court admits Deji Adeyanju to N500,000 bail for alleged cyber stalking

    A Wuse II Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Thursday admitted civil activist and coordinator of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, to bail in the sum of N500,000 .

    Adeyanju was remanded by the Court on Tuesday, following his arraignment on charges of cyber-stalking, inciting disturbance and criminal defamation by the police.

    In a ruling, Magistrate Idiat Akanni, said the offence the defendant committed is bailable.

    Akanni ordered the defendant to produce two sureties with like sum each as bail bond.

    The magistrate added that the sureties must be civil servants of not less than Grade Level 12, and must produce and utility bill.

    NAN recalls that Adeyanju got into trouble with the authorities when he led a protest to the police headquarters on Nov. 28.

    Adeyanju and his group had stormed the force headquarters with banner bearing the inscription: “Police are not politicians; this rally is about saving democracy.”

    The protesters were calling on the Police and other security agents to be non-partisan, especially as the 2019 general elections approaches.

    He was arrested alongside two other campaigners, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams, and arraigned before the Karshi Magistrates’ Court, which remanded them in the Keffi Prisons in Nasarawa State.

    The accused persons were charged with criminal conspiracy, public nuisance, disturbance of public peace and threat to public security and safety, criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituted authority.

    They were granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Aliu Kagarko and were bail able to perfect the bail conditions on Dec. 3.

    However, while Abobama and Williams were release, Adeyanju was re-arrested by the police and arraigned on the new charges.

    The case is adjourned until Jan. 17, for hearing.

  • Court denies El-Zakzaky, wife bail

    Court denies El-Zakzaky, wife bail

    A Kaduna State High Court on Wednesday denied the bail application filed by counsel to the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Gideon Kurada in his ruling said the accused persons have not shown any substantial medical evidence to grant them bail in their written application, reports Channels Television.

    The judge, however, ordered that the two accused persons should remain in the custody of the Department of State Services throughout the period of their trial.

     

  • Alleged N7.65bn fraud: EFCC accuses Orji Kalu of jumping bail

    …after embarking on Germany trip

    Hearing in the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu, for an alleged fraud of N7.65bn was stalled on Monday due to the absence of the ex-governor from court.

    Kalu’s lawyer, Prof Awa Kalu (SAN), told Justice Mohammed Idris at the Federal High Court in Lagos that his client was away in Germany for a surgical operation.

    He added that the ex-governor had been advised by his doctors to remain in Germany for some time to recuperate.

    The defence counsel said the prosecutor for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was aware of the development and urged Justice Idris to further adjourn the case.

    But Jacobs said he was surprised at Kalu’s absence from court, adding that he did not know if or when the ex-governor obtained the court’s permission to travel out.

    Jacobs noted that having submitted his passport to the court as part of his bail conditions, Kalu must always apply to the court for the passport whenever he wished to travel.

    Describing the ex-governor’s absence from court as an attempt to frustrate the case, Jacobs urged Justice Idris to interpret Kalu’s absence to mean that he had jumped bail.

    “I am not aware when the 1st defendant wanted to travel. We only got to know that the 1st defendant travelled abroad for medical treatment through a statement by his media aide, one Kunle Oyewunmi.

    “Things must be done in accordance with the law. In my own view, what happened is that the 1st defendant has jumped bail. This is an attempt to further frustrate this trial because no application was made to the court to travel.

    “I urge Your Lordship to treat the absence of the 1st defendant that he has jumped bail,” Jacobs said.

    Ruling on the lawyers’ submissions, Justice Idris noted that the court received a mail confirming Kalu’s treatment arrangement, but said the defence counsel failed to attach any medical report to guide the court on Kalu’s post-surgery treatment.

    Justice Idris said in the circumstance, he would, in the interest of justice, adjourn the case for the last time, stressing that Kalu must return from Germany within seven days and appear before the court.

    The judge ruled, “I have always stated that every citizen of this country is entitled to and has the right to seek medical treatment abroad. This right is guaranteed by the constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is an inalienable right.

    “However, this right has exceptions; therefore, in exercising this right, due regard must be for the law and due process.

    “Apart from the mail confirming the treatment arrangement of the 1st defendant, the defence counsel should have obtained a medical report on the condition of the 1st defendant post-surgery. This would have properly guided the court in the proceedings of today.”

    He added, “In the light of the entirety of this case and in the interest of justice, I am prepared to grant to the 1st defendant a final adjournment in respect of this matter.

    “In the light of the provisions of the ACJA, I shall not adjourn for more than seven days from today. It is, therefore, hereby directed that the 1st defendant shall return to the country within seven days from today’s date for the hearing of this matter.”

    The matter was adjourned till November 12, 2018 for continuation of trial.

  • N500m scam: Court admits two PDP chieftains to bail of N50m each

    N500m scam: Court admits two PDP chieftains to bail of N50m each

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday admitted Clement Faboyede and Modupe Adetokunbo, chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, to bail in the sum of N50 million each.

    Faboyede, the Ondo State Chairman of the PDP, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on alleged N500 million laundering charge.

    The EFCC arraigned Faboyede on June 29 alongside Adetokunbo, the Director-General of the party’s Campaign Organisation in the state, during the 2015 general elections.

    They are facing three counts bordering on money laundering and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    On July 10, both the defence counsel, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ekene Ihenacho, had respectively argued their application in favour and in opposition to the bails of the accused.

    Justice Muslim Hassan had then reserved ruling on their submissions until Thursday.

    Delivering his ruling on the resumed date, the court listed factors to be considered in deciding a bail application to include the nature of the charge, the severity of the punishment, and the likelihood of the accused committing further offences.

    The court held that the sole issue for determination was whether or not, the accused were entitled to bail pending trial, bearing in mind that the essence of bail is to ensure their attendance for trial.

    The judge then held that bail was deserving in the circumstances, and consequently, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50 million each, with one surety each in like sum.

    The court held that the sureties must either be federal or state civil servants, not below grade level 15 or must be landed property owners within the court’s jurisdiction.

    The sureties were directed to deposit the title documents of the property and two passport photographs each, at the court’s registry, which must be verified.

    The accused were also ordered to deposit their international passport at the court’s registry, while the prosecution was given a week to authenticate the documents submitted by the sureties.

    The court subsequently, adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for trial.

    The accused were said to have committed the offences on March 27, 2015.

    They were said to have conspired to accept a cash payment of the sum of N500 million, which exceeded the amount allowed by law, without going through any financial institution.

    The offences contravened Sections 16, 16 (2) and 18 of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No.1 of 2012).

     

  • DSS may release Dasuki on bail

    The detained former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) may any moment from now be released by the Department of State Services (DSS) on bail.

    This was confirmed to journalists on Tuesday evening by a top official of the Federal Government, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

    According to the official, the DSS had already given the commitment that Dasuki would be released on bail once he met all the conditions given him by the court.

    “We have confirmation from the DSS that Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) will be allowed to go on bail if he meets the conditions set for him by the court,” the source simply said.

    The DSS was said to have earlier in the day been served court papers showing that Dasuki had met all his bail conditions.

    Dasuki’s counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) confirmed yesterday that the bail conditions of his client have been fulfilled and the ex-NSA’s family and associates are awaiting a positive response from the Federal Government and the DSS.

    Raji said: “I am pleading and begging the Federal Government and DSS in the name of God Almighty to please comply with court order on my client Col. Sambo Dasuki. We have served them with the court order and in the interest of justice and rule of law, I am begging this government, being a democratic government, to please respect the rule of law on Dasuki.”

    Family members, friends, associates and well-wishers of Dasuki yesterday stormed his Abuja residence in anticipation of his final release from the DSS’ detention, where he has been held by the Federal Government since December 29, 2015.

    The court, on July 2, granted Dasuki conditional bail, which he had perfected fully yesterday through his two sureties, who are standing for his freedom as ordered by Justice Ijeoma Ojuku.

    Although the sureties had anticipated that the detained ex-NSA would be handed over to them, sources, however, said the DSS boss might need to contact the Presidency before finally handing over Dasuki to the sureties in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court.

    The warrant of release dated July 16, 2018, titled: “Verification of Bail Conditions” and signed by Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court Abuja, Mr. Mba Nkem A. Omotosho, was served on the DSS Headquarters and the Office of Minister of Justice in Abuja.

    The warrant of release read in part: “Pursuant to the judgment order made on Monday, the 2nd day of July 2018, granted by His Lordship, Hon Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu, directing various conditions to be fulfilled prior to the release on bail of the applicant (Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

    “I have scrupulously verified the entire conditions of bail as ordered by his lordship and the three ambits are fulfilled.

    “Hence, the respondents, the Director-General, State Security Services, and Attorney General of the Federation, are hereby notified as directed by His Lordship for the subsequent compliance of same.

    “Attached herewith is the enrolled Order of the court and all the necessary bail documents for your perusal and aggrandisement,” it concluded.

    Before the latest judgment by Justice Ojukwu, Dasuki had previously perfected bails granted him by four different judges of high courts, including Justices Ademola Adeniyi and Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court and Justices Hussein Baba-Yusuf and Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Courts.

    The ECOWAS Court of Justice had also ordered his immediate release from detention.

  • Court admits herbalist to N500,000 bail

    Court admits herbalist to N500,000 bail

    An Igbosere Magiatrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday admitted a 36-year-old harbalist, Ahmed Ifakunle, who allegedly swindled his customer to the tune of N170,000, to bail in the sum of N500, 000.

    Ifakunle, who resides at Atikori, Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining under false pretences leveled against him by the police.

    The Magiatrate, Mr Y.O. Arolambo, who admitted the accused to bail with two sureties, ordered that they must be gainfully employed.

    Arolambo ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    He adjourned until Aug. 15 for trial

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Friday Mameh, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence between March and April.

    He said that Ifakunle conspired with one other still at large and obtained N170,000 from the complainant, Mr Adeleke Shefiu, with a promise to pray for him to be promoted in his office and to get rich.

    He said that the accused asked the complainant for the said money to buy items for offering and to perform “special prayers”.

    The offences Sections 314 (1) (a) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Section 314 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences.