Ex-Gov Aliyu arraigned again, gets N200m bail

Former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja, on eight counts of money laundering.

He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko.

The commission alleged that Aliyu conspired with Nasko to launder ecological funds amounting to over N1billion, released by the Federal Government to Niger government in 2014.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence and were admitted to bail in the sum of N200m each, with two sureties each in like sum.

The presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, further ordered that the two sureties could be business men or public servants; and where in the public service, who must not be below the position of a director.

The sureties according to the judge must also own landed property in Abuja excluding the satellite towns.

The defendants were also asked to deposit their international passports with the court and should for no reason travel without obtaining court permission.

Justice Dimgba held that where the defendants could not perfect their bail conditions within 48 hours, they would be remanded in Kuje Prison until bail was perfected.

He then adjourned the matter until July 6 and 7 to hear the preliminary objection and for trial.

The anti-graft agency is claiming that the offence for which the defendants are being prosecuted contravened Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and is punishable under Section 15 of the same Act.

Read also: FG returns charge dropped against Justice Ngwuta

Counsel to Aliyu, Mr Mamman Osuman (SAN), meanwhile filed a preliminary objection, challenging the hearing of the suit in Abuja, on the ground that there is a Federal High Court in Minna.

He argued that the defendants had an ongoing related trial on a six-count charge of breach of trust in Minna adding that since the “ingredients” of both cases were the same, that it will appropriate to conduct both cases in Minna for justice sake.

However, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Ben Ikani, contended that the case in Minna was different from the one in Abuja.

 

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