The Federal Capital Territory, High Court in Abuja Nigeria, has granted five billion naira bail bond to the suspended Nigeria’s accountant General, Ahmed Idris with two surety.
One of the surety must be a Federal Permanent Secretary and the second must be a Director in the Federal service.
The court also granted two other co-defendants Godfrey Olusegun Akindele and Mohammed Kudu Usman bail bonds of two billion naira each with two Federal Directors each as surety.
Justice Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi while rulling on the bail application said, despite the allegations against the defendants in the matter, they are entitled to bail.
According to the Judge, the bail is admitted upon the terms and conditions given to them in their previous administrative bail by the EFCC.
The court warned that, the defendants should not travel out of the Federal Capital Territory and should they try to do so without the knowledge of court, will have their bail application revoked.
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi also warned that, the defendants should not procure any alternate passport haven deposited their Passports with the EFCC and if such is done the court will have bail revoked.
The court noted that the bail was granted in consideration that, the defendants did not misbehave while in detention and have complied with all the conditions of their previous administrative bail by EFCC.
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison untill their bail conditions are perfected.
The former Accoutant General alongside Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited were arraigned by the EFCC on 22nd July on a 14 count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.
The Anti-graft Commission had alleged among other things, that “Ahmed Idris between February and December, 2021 at Abuja, being a public servant by virtue of his position as the Accountant General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification in the aggregate sum of Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira and Forty Six Kobo, which sum was converted to the United States Dollars by the said Olusegun Akindele.
“The sum did not form part of your lawful remuneration but as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine oil producing Sates in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section.”
Counsel to the former Accoutant General Chief Chris Uche SAN expressed satisfaction with the bail granted to his client and promised to obey the bail conditions.
During the trial a witness Hayatudeen Suleiman Ahmed an investigator with the EFCC, narrates how four groups shared 84.39 billion naira from FAAC with held Exco account.
He also told the court how the former Accoutant General and Muhammed Kudu Usman procured further properties in Abuja and Minna, Niger State.
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi adjourned for continuation of hearing to August 10 and 11.
Emmanuel Ukoh
