Justice
A. S. Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama on Wednesday, September 28,
2016 granted bail to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman O.
Jubrin and two others for an offence bordering on criminal conspiracy brought
against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Others
are Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia (rtd) and Rear Admiral Sheu Ahmadu ( rtd).
They
were docked alongside Harbour Bay International Limited by the anti- graft
agency on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.
The
naval chiefs, whilst in office, allegedly bought a house worth N600million from
the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract
being captured in the budget.
It
was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the
property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first
defendant (Vice Admiral Jubrin) became the buyer.
The
offence is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section
22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.
Justice
Umar, after taking their pleas, adjourned to today for hearing on the bail
application.
Moving
the application at the resumed sitting today, Jubrin’s counsel, Y. C. Maikyau,
SAN, prayed the court to admit his client to bail pending trial.
Maikyau
argued that, “the offence for which the 1st defendant is charged is
bailable by virtue of Section 42 (1) and (2) of the Corrupt Practices and other
Related Offences Act 2000.”
He
further stated that the defendant is a retired Rear Admiral of the Nigeria Navy
and former Chief of Naval Staff who voluntarily honoured the invitation of the
EFCC and remained cooperative throughout the investigation leading to his
charge.
According
to him, Jubrin complied with the conditions upon which he was granted bail by
the EFCC and did not in any way interfere with the investigation.
On
his part, Olatunji Salawu who stood in for A. M. Kayode, representing Mshelia,
urged the court to admit his client to bail on “a very liberal term”.
He
pleaded that, the accused person if granted bail, would be available to stand
his trial.
Similarly,
Ahmadu’s counsel, A. G. Duku, aligned himself with the arguments of the other
two counsels to seek bail for his client, adding that “the second defendant
will not be able to adequately prepare his defence while in custody as the
circumstances surrounding his charge occurred in the course of his
obeying instructions of his superior.”
Responding,
counsel to EFCC, Faruk Abdullahi, vehemently opposed the bail of the first and
third accused (Jubrin and Ahmadu), while raising no objection to the second
accused prayer but urged the court to enforce conditions that would ensure his
presence in court while the trial lasts.
In
his opposition to the Jubrin’s application, Faruk argued that the defendant had
not made out a case to warrant the court to exercise its discretion in his
favour.
“The
law which governs the grant or refusal of an application of this nature before
this Honourable Court, which is Section 341 (1) and (2) OF Criminal Procedure
Code, does not impose upon the court an obligation to grant bail, but situates
the determination as to grant the bail firmly within the discretionary powers
of the court”, Faruk stated.
He
stated further that, the first defendant (Jubrin) had the financial muscle and
status to interfere with the prosecution witness if admitted to bail.
Faruk
also urged the court to consider the gravity and rampancy of the offence. He
invited the court to refuse the application and instead order for accelerated
hearing of the matter.
After
listening to the arguments for and against the application, Justice Umar, who
consolidated the three applications, ruled that the defendants were entitled to
be granted bail as it was their constitutional right, adding that it might be
revoked if any of the terms is breached.
He,
therefore, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100million each and
two sureties each in like sum. One of sureties must not be below salary grade
level 16. The sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of
the court which must be verified by the registrar of the court and the EFCC.
The accused persons are to deposit their international passports with the
court.
The
judge also ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the EFCC custody
pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
The
case has been adjourned to November 14 – 15, 2016 for commencement of hearing
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