A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Maitama in Abuja has granted bail to the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris in the sum of 50 billion naira with two sureties, one permanent secretary and a director in the federal civil service.
Other two defendants in the matter were also granted bail in the sum of 2 billion naira each with two sureties who must be directors in the federal civil service.
Delivering a ruling on their bail application, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi held that in line with the due process and supremacy of the law that the Defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.
As part of conditions for release of the Defendants on bail, the court, held that they must remain within the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, adding that they must seek consent before travelling out. Justice Ajayi further ordered the Defendants to depose to an affidavit of assurance that they will all abide by all their bail conditions.
The judge also directed them to surrender their international passports and to give assurance that they would not procure alternate passports during the pendency of the case. Justice Ajayi held that the Defendants should remain in Kuje prison until they are able to perfect their bail conditions. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Shortly after the court granted bail to the defendants, the prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs called one witness, an EFCC investigative officer who tendered documents which the court admitted as exhibits against the defendants. The matter has been adjourned till August 10 for further trial.
