It was drama today, January 16, 2014 at the Federal High Court Lokoja, Kogi State as Justice I. E Ekwo granted bail to a former chairman of Adavi Local Government Council, Enesi Jimoh whom he had earlier convicted and sentenced to a six month imprisonment without option of fine for criminal misappropriation of public fund.
Jimoh who was prosecuted by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was found guilty by Justice Ekwo
on November 13, 2013 of converting N7 million belonging to the Council for personal
use. He was arraigned by the EFCC alongside one Samuel Abiodun Ojo, a
Commissioner for Agriculture in March 31, 2010. Ojo was however discharged by
the court after a no case submission filed by his counsel in June, 2012.
Upon his conviction, the former
council boss, through his counsel Olu Agunbiade, filed an appeal seeking a
review of his conviction. Agunbiade wrote to the prison authorities in
Koton-Karfe demanding the health status of the accused person. On the strength
of that letter, the prison authorities took the convict to a specialist
hospital where he was allegedly diagnosed of lung cancer . Agunbiade also
presented to the court a letter from the prison authorities, stating that the
hospital do not have facilities to treat lung cancer. On the strength of these
letters, counsel prayed the court to grant his client bail on health grounds
However, counsel to EFCC, Wahab
Shittu vehemently opposed the application on the grounds that it would be
tantamount to throwing the prison gate open to convicted persons who would want
to use health issues to escape serving jail terms. Wahab also told the court
that the presumption of innocence was no longer available to the convict having
been convicted and sentenced.
While
dismissing the application as incompetent, Shittu assured that the state will
give adequate medical attention to the convict even if it means sending him
abroad for treatment
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