The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today May 24, 2018 arraigned the trio
of Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano State; Aminu Bashir Wali and
Mansur Ahmed before Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar of the Federal High Court
sitting in Kano on a 6-count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering to the
tune of N950,000,000 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only).
The
defendants allegedly collected the sum of N950,000,000, part of the $115,000,000 (One Hundred and
Fifteen Million Dollars) allegedly distributed by a former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Deizani Allison Madueke for the purpose of
influencing the outcome of the 2015
general election.
It
was further alleged that the said money was shared among the PDP chieftains
without going through a financial institution, in violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
One
of the charge read that “You Ibrahim Shekarau, Aminu Bashir Wali on or about
the 27th March, 2015 within the Kano Judicial division of the Federal High
Court , retain, took possession and control of the cash sum of N950,000,000
(Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only), which sum you reasonably ought to
have known forms part of an unlawful act of Deizani Allison Madueke to wit:
gratification , commits an offence contrary to Section of 15 (1) of the Money
Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under
section 15(3) of the same Act”.
All
the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Counsel
for the prosecution, Johnson Ojogbane requested the court for trial date
in view of the plea of the defendants.
The
defence counsel Ologunolisa Sam, SAN moved bail application on behalf of his
clients, urging the court to admit them to bail on self recognizance.
Ojogbane
on the other hand responded with 19 paragraph counter affidavit urging the
court to refuse bail.
After
listening to the arguments by the parties, Justice Abubakar granted the
defendants bail in the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million) each and two
sureties in like sum.
One
of the sureties shall be a civil servant
in either federal or state service not below the rank of director. The
other surety shall own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court also ruled that the sureties must swear an affidavit of means while the Certificate of Occupancy in respect
of the landed property shall be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of
the Court. Also the defendants were ordered to submit their international
passports to Deputy Chief Rigistrar..
The
matter was subsequently adjourned to June 26, 2018 for the commencement of trial.
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