Justice Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Abuja on Thursday admitted the suspended Accountant General, Ahmed Idris to N5bn bail just as the prosecution called it’s first witness in the N109bn fraud trial.
The judge also granted bail to Idris co-defendants: Godfrey Olusegun Akindele and Mohammed Kudu Usman.They were arraigned on 14 count charge along with Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited on the alleged fraud.
Akindele and Usman were granted bail in the sum of N2bn each, two sureties who must be directors in the federal civil service each, while Idris would secure his bail with N5bn and two sureties in like sums, a Permanent Secretary and a director .
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi adopted the terms of bail condition granted the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and added some terms.
Stating that the bail is admitted upon the terms and conditions given to them in their previous administrative bail by the EFCC, the judge ordered the defendants not to travel out of the Federal Capital Territory .She warned that if they try to do so without the knowledge of court, she will revoke their bails.
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi also warned the defendants not procure any alternate passport .
She 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.
The Anti-graft Commission had alleged among other things, in the charge accused the defendants thus: “that 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 Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira and Forty Six Kobo, 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 .
Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi ordered the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison untill their bail conditions are perfected.