Two former
ministers and directors of Media and Finance respectively of the People’s
Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general election, Femi
Fani-Kayode and Nenadi Usman are to remain in prison till Monday July 4, 2016
as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today reserved ruling on their bail
applications.
Fani-Kayode and Usman alongside Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust
Dimensions Nigeria Limited were on June 28 arraigned by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission before Justice M. S.
Hassan on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and
making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law. The accused
persons are alleged to have diverted about N4.9 billion belonging to the
Federal Government of Nigeria for political and personal uses.
They had pleaded not guilty. Consequently, their counsel, Ferdinand Orbih,
SAN, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and S. I. Ameh (SAN) moved
the motion for bail, having filed separate applications in which they prayed
the court to release their clients on bail. But the prosecuting counsel Rotimi
Oyedepo said he needed time to respond to the applications. Justice Hassan
consequently adjourned proceedings to July1 for hearing of the bail applications.
At the resumed hearing today, counsel to the defendants (Ferdinand
Orbih, SAN, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and C.
I. Ndukwe) argued the applications.
Orbih (SAN) prayed the court to admit the first accused
person to bail based on self recognition pending the hearing and determination
of the charges preferred against her. He also prayed the court to grant her
bail on very liberal terms. Adedipe
(SAN), and Ndukwe aligned themselves with Orbih.
Prosecution counsel, Nkereuwem Mark Anana opposed the
applications. However, he stated that where the court decides to exercise its
discretion in favour of the defendants, it should
impose conditions that will compel them to attend trial.
Justice Hassan consequently adjourned to July 4, 2016 for
ruling.
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