BY ONYEKA AJUMOBI ONOCHIE
An FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has considered the deadly implication of the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic and refused to grant the prayer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s prosecution counsel in remanding an accused in prison custody, saying it was in the court’s discretion to grant bail.
Justice C.N Orji consequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5million (Five Million Naira only) with two sureties, one of whom must be a level 17 officer in public service and lives within the jurisdiction of the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned one Kebiru Haruna and a company, Zainab Courage Corporate Limited, before Justice Orji on four-count charges, bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N16 million (Sixteen Million Naira, Only).
One of the count charges read: “That you Zainab Courage Corporate Limited In or about May 2014, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the FCT, with intent to defraud, did conspire with Kebiru Haruna to obtain the sum of N15, 000,000(Fifteen Million Naira) only, receipted from Hajiyah Asman Abubakar (representing Abubakar Sale Abubakar), by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8, of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. 2004, and punishable under Section (3) of the same Act.”
After the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Ike Okonjo, to urge the court for commencement of trial and asked the court not to grant them bail, adding that they be remanded in prison custody considering the gravity of the offence.
But Justice Orji noted that considering the Covid-19 pandemic, it was in the court’s discretion to grant bail, since they had earlier been faithful to their administrative bail, and then proceeded to grant them bail in the sum of N5million (Five Million Naira only) with two sureties. One of whom must be a level 17 officer in public service and lives within the jurisdiction of the court.
Justice Orji adjourned the matter till October 22, 2020, for commencement of hearing.