Finally, court grants bail to former Accountant General Idris, 2 others
Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Abuja, Thursday, granted the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris along with two others, bail after arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Idris, along with Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited are standing trial on charges preferred against them by the EFCC on July 22 said to bother on a 14- count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of over N109 billion.
Presiding judge, Justice Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi, ruled in favor of their bail application, saying that despite the allegations against the defendants in the matter, they are entitled to bail.
According to the Judge, the bail is admitted upon the terms and conditions given to them in their previous administrative bail by the EFCC.
The court warned that the defendants should not travel out of the Federal Capital Territory and should they try to do so without the knowledge of court, will have their bail application revoked.
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi also warned that the defendants should not procure any alternate passport and if such is done the court will have bail revoked.
The court noted that the bail was granted in consideration that the defendants did not misbehave while in detention and have complied with all the conditions of their previous administrative bail by EFCC.
It would be recalled that last week, Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi had ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison until their bail conditions are perfected.
The former Accountant General alongside Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited were arraigned by the EFCC on 22nd July on a 14- count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.
According to the EFCC, “Ahmed Idris between February and December 2021, at Abuja, being a public servant by virtue of his position as the Accountant General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification in the aggregate sum of N15,136,221,921.46, which sum was converted to the United States Dollars by the said Olusegun Akindele.
“The sum did not form part of your lawful remuneration but as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine oil producing Sates in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section”.
The trial of Idris and his co-defendants has since commenced already at the FCT High Court, in Abuja with witnesses from the prosecution testifying.
