Ex Acting Gov Fintiri remanded in Kuje prison for N1bn fraud

Former Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri , was on Thursday remanded in Kuje prison after an Abuja Federal High Court ordered his imprisonment pending the determination of his bail application.

Fintiri who governed Adamawa for three months, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.

He was alleged to have defrauded the Adamawa government to the tune of N970 million and 4.8 million dollars within the very few months he was in charge of the state.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge as his counsel, Mahmud Magaji, applied for his bail challenging that the offences were bail-able.

Basing his argument on Section 35 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, which presumes his client innocent until proven guilty and sections 158 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail.

Mr. Magaji assured the court that his client would not jump bail, adding that he would always be present to face his case.

Read also: You must prove you’re not corrupt, court tells ex-Gov Ohakim

However, the prosecuting counsel, Peters Aso, objected to the application, urging the court to take judicial notice of a document filed by the defence, concerning a medical issue of the defendant, suggesting that Fintri lied on oath as there was contradiction between the date he claimed the doctor informed him of his ailment and when he said he was examined.

Mr. Aso, therefore, prayed the court to refuse the bail application and remand the defendant in prison for the period of trial.

The presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, latter fixed ruling on the bail application for July 1.

Part of the requirements of the bail, was that the defendant deposit his International Passport with the court.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now