From Our Correspondent
Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FHC, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday revoked the bail earlier granted one of the defendants in the trial of a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
TheNewsZenith reports that the defendants are facing trial over an alleged fraudulent diversion of public fund to the tune of N109.5 million.
The court revoked the defendant, Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele’s bail following his non-appearance in court for continuation of trial.
Akindele and Idris are standing trial alongside Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instituted the suit against them on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing and fraudulent diversion of public fund.
Idris, among others, was alleged to have between Feb. and Dec. 2021, while being a public servant by virtue of his position as Accountant-General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, the second defendant, a gratification of the aggregate sum of N15,136,221,921.46. He
The court heard that Akindele converted the amount to dollars equivalent.
The money, according to the prosecution, did not form part of Idris’s remuneration.
But it is a motive for accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to nine oil producing states.
The payment is to be routed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
EFCC alleged they committed an offence contrary to section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 533 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990. |the offence is punishable under the same section.
The commission accused both Idris and Akindele of committing criminal breach of trust while being entrusted with certain property, to wit N84,390,000,000 between Feb. and Nov. 2021.
They committed the offence by dishonestly receiving the said amount from the Federal Government through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele.
Akindele is trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co.
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By this, according to EFCC, the first and second defendants allegedly committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.
At the resumed hearing of the case, on Tuesday, Idris and Usman were in court, except Akindele.
Counsel for Akindele, S.E. Adino pleaded that his client was on the way to court. He submitted that Akindele has always been in court to face trial.
But Justice Halilu insisted on revoking Akindele’s bail.
The judge said when a court grants bail to a defendant, such person must reciprocate the gesture by attending court for trial.
He added that Akindele had not shown good character and conduct by his refusal to attend court.
“The second defendant had abuse the terms of his bail.”
Halilu subsequently revoked his bail. He ordered FCT Commissioner of Police and EFCC to arrest and produce Akindele in court in the next adjourned date.
He then adjourned the case until Feb. 1, 2024 for definite hearing.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe told the court the prosecution received a letter from counsel for Idris.
Atolagbe added that he did not receive any from the counsel for Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
He said despite the fact that there were competent lawyers in the office of Idris’ lawyer, none of them announced appearance for the former Accountant-General of the Federation.
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