Also to be kept with the EFCC are former Finance and Administration Director in the office of the NSA Shuaibu Salisu and Bafarawa’s son Sagir.
They are to remain in the EFCC custody pending the judge’s ruling on their bail application.
The judge ordered their remand after listening to submissions from their lawyers and the prosecution on the bail application they filed.
They were on Tuesday arraigned on a 22-count charge of breach of public trust in relation to alleged diversion of public funds and acceptance of proceed of crime estimated at about N18billion.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail.
While arguing the defendants’ bail applications the defence lawyers prayed the court to admit their clients to bail on liberal terms on the grounds that their alleged offences are bailable and that they are well-known individuals who will readily attend trial.
Prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to refuse their bail application because they could jump bail, interfere with prosecution witnesses, who are individuals, who worked under them.
Jacobs argued that mere reliance on grounds of ill-health was insufficient for the court to grant bail to a defendant.
He said the defendants must show that the ailment was life threatening and that the detaining authority lacked the capacity to effectively provide the needed medical assistance. Justice Affen adjourned to Monday for ruling.
MeasureMeasure
No comments:
Post a Comment