The lawmaker along with two former chairmen in the state, Mr David Sev-Av and Alex Ogaba of Ukum and Ado local government respectively as well as aides to the erstwhile governor of the state, Dr Gabriel Suswam; Mr Terfa Bosua and Andrew Ayande were remanded in Makurdi medium prison.
The accused persons who were part of the 52 persons indicted by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry set up by governor Samuel Ortom, upon the assumption of office to probe the eight years administration of former governor Gabriel Suswam were standing trial on corruption charges bordering on money laundering.
Granting the accused bail yesterday, the presiding Judge, Justice Joseph stated that the accused persons had been on police administrative bail without trial and added that the offence committed by the accused persons was weighty in nature, ‘but is bailable.’
He said that from the records made available to him pertaining to the accused persons, they have no past criminal records or jump bail while on police administrative bail.
This, he said, was a clear indication that if granted bail, the accused would remain committed to the case until they are proven guilty or innocence.
”I have unfiltered discretion to grant bail to such accused persons in a matter like this, though the rules for bail has not be exhausted, but for the nature and gravity of the offence, their protection and medication, I admit them for bail on strenuous conditions”, Justice Aneke stated.
He, therefore, granted bail in the sum of N100 million each to the five accused persons amounting to N500million with five sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered that each of the sureties to be provided by the defendants must be a highly placed person and must be a resident of Makurdi and who must have a landed property in Makurdi, the state capital.
He maintained that the sureties must deposit the original copy(s) of the CoO of their landed properties and two recent passports and evidence of tax certificates.
Justice Aneke however, fixed November 14th, 2017 for further mentioning of the case.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the ruling, the leading counsel to the defendants, Barrister Innocent Daa’Gba, expressed gratitude to the judge for granting bail to his clients.
He maintained that they have commenced the process of putting things together to meet up the bail conditions.
”We are not much worry about the bail conditions, I believe at the end of the day, we should be able to produce the requirements for their release. I have confidence in clients that they would not disappoint me and they will always make themselves available anytime it is required of them.”
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