Alleged N109bn fraud: Why court shouldn't bail suspended Accountant General - EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday objected to bail applications filed by suspended Federation Accountant General Ahmed Idris and his co-defendants accused of N109 billion fraud .
EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, Senior Advocate for Nigeria (SAN), opposing bail applications at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja , equated the accused's alleged offenses to crimes against humanity.
But Mr. Idris' lawyer, Chris Uche, another SAN, along with other defense attorneys, urged the court to ignore the EFCC's objection and grant bail to their clients .
The judge, O.A Adeyemi-Ajayi, has set July 28 to rule on the bail applications.
The EFCC had last Friday indicted Mr. Idris alongside three others - Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited - for an alleged N109 billion fraud.
The four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the 14 charges filed by the EFCC.
Mr. Idris' lawyer, Mr. Uche, made unsuccessful efforts to secure bail for the defendants through an oral request he made to the court shortly after the defendants heard their pleas.
The oral motion was opposed by the prosecutor's attorney, Mr. Jacobs, who insisted that the motion had to be in writing for the court to hear it.
The judge, agreeing with the prosecutor, ruled that the court would not accept an oral request for bail.
The court then ordered the dismissal of the defendants and ordered the parties to file their position on bail. He has set the bail hearing for today (Wednesday).
Bail HearingDuring Wednesday's proceedings, Mr. Uche urged the court to admit Mr. Idris on bail pending the decision on the prosecution.
Arguing that the charges are not "capital offenses and bailable", Mr Uche urged the court to disregard the EFCC's opposition to the bail request.
The defense attorney denied prosecution allegations that Mr. Idris violated the terms of the administrative bond granted by the EFCC.
“The prosecution, which investigated and saw the seriousness of the case, still saw fit to release the defendants on bail. The prosecution did not gain weight overnight,” explained Mr. Uche.
He noted that Mr. Idris “made himself available by promptly returning to Abuja from Kano as soon as he was invited for this trial,” adding, “we therefore urge my Lord to grant the accused a bail on very liberal terms".
Similarly, the co-accused of Mr. Idris - MM. Akindele and Usman - begged the judge to grant them bail.
But the prosecution's attorney, Mr. Jacobs, opposed the defendants' bail applications.
He drew the judge's attention to the "nature and seriousness" of the charges, urging him to deny bail requests.
READ ALSO: Alleged €109 billion fraud: Court sends former Accountant General Ahmed Idris and others to jailMr. Jacobs argued that embezzlement of public funds is a serious crime, equating the alleged offense with "crimes against humanity".
After hearing the lawyers' arguments, the judge adjourned the trial until Thursday to rule.
PastThis newspaper reported in May how Mr. Idris was arrested in Kano, following his refusal to honor the EFCC's invitation over alleged fraud.
Subsequently, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed informed Mr. Idris of his suspension, in a letter dated May 18.
His suspension is without pay, says the letter from Ms. Ahmed.
The suspension, Ms. Ahmed said, was in accordance with civil service rules to allow room for a proper and unimpeded investigation.
This newspaper also reported in June how the anti-corruption agency had confiscated multi-billion naira assets linked to Mr. Idris, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday objected to bail applications filed by suspended Federation Accountant General Ahmed Idris and his co-defendants accused of N109 billion fraud .
EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, Senior Advocate for Nigeria (SAN), opposing bail applications at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja , equated the accused's alleged offenses to crimes against humanity.
But Mr. Idris' lawyer, Chris Uche, another SAN, along with other defense attorneys, urged the court to ignore the EFCC's objection and grant bail to their clients .
The judge, O.A Adeyemi-Ajayi, has set July 28 to rule on the bail applications.
The EFCC had last Friday indicted Mr. Idris alongside three others - Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited - for an alleged N109 billion fraud.
The four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the 14 charges filed by the EFCC.
Mr. Idris' lawyer, Mr. Uche, made unsuccessful efforts to secure bail for the defendants through an oral request he made to the court shortly after the defendants heard their pleas.
The oral motion was opposed by the prosecutor's attorney, Mr. Jacobs, who insisted that the motion had to be in writing for the court to hear it.
The judge, agreeing with the prosecutor, ruled that the court would not accept an oral request for bail.
The court then ordered the dismissal of the defendants and ordered the parties to file their position on bail. He has set the bail hearing for today (Wednesday).
Bail HearingDuring Wednesday's proceedings, Mr. Uche urged the court to admit Mr. Idris on bail pending the decision on the prosecution.
Arguing that the charges are not "capital offenses and bailable", Mr Uche urged the court to disregard the EFCC's opposition to the bail request.
The defense attorney denied prosecution allegations that Mr. Idris violated the terms of the administrative bond granted by the EFCC.
“The prosecution, which investigated and saw the seriousness of the case, still saw fit to release the defendants on bail. The prosecution did not gain weight overnight,” explained Mr. Uche.
He noted that Mr. Idris “made himself available by promptly returning to Abuja from Kano as soon as he was invited for this trial,” adding, “we therefore urge my Lord to grant the accused a bail on very liberal terms".
Similarly, the co-accused of Mr. Idris - MM. Akindele and Usman - begged the judge to grant them bail.
But the prosecution's attorney, Mr. Jacobs, opposed the defendants' bail applications.
He drew the judge's attention to the "nature and seriousness" of the charges, urging him to deny bail requests.
READ ALSO: Alleged €109 billion fraud: Court sends former Accountant General Ahmed Idris and others to jailMr. Jacobs argued that embezzlement of public funds is a serious crime, equating the alleged offense with "crimes against humanity".
After hearing the lawyers' arguments, the judge adjourned the trial until Thursday to rule.
PastThis newspaper reported in May how Mr. Idris was arrested in Kano, following his refusal to honor the EFCC's invitation over alleged fraud.
Subsequently, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed informed Mr. Idris of his suspension, in a letter dated May 18.
His suspension is without pay, says the letter from Ms. Ahmed.
The suspension, Ms. Ahmed said, was in accordance with civil service rules to allow room for a proper and unimpeded investigation.
This newspaper also reported in June how the anti-corruption agency had confiscated multi-billion naira assets linked to Mr. Idris, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask...What's Your Reaction?
