Court grants Fani- Kayode, Nenadi Usman conditional bail

A Federal High Court in Lagos has
granted a N250 million bail to former
Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode,
who is facing corruption trial before
Justice Muslim Hassan.
The judge also granted bail in the same
sum to Mr. Fani-Kayode’s co-
defendants, Nenadi Usman, former
Finance Minister; and Danjuma Yusuf.
Mr. Hassan also stated that each of the
defendants must provide two sureties
who own landed properties within the
court’s jurisdiction, as well as deposit
their travel passports with the court.
The sureties must have landed
property within the jurisdiction of the
court and deposit their Title
Documents with the Chief Registrar of
the court.
The Title Documents shall be verified
by the EFCC within seven days. The
sureties shall also file affidavit of
means and deposit their International
passport with the court.
He adjourned till October 19, 20, and
21, for trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission had last Tuesday
arraigned Mr. Fani-Kayode former
Minister Nenadi Usman alongside
Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust
Dimensions Nigeria Limited before
Justice Hassan on a 17-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, stealing,
corruption and making cash payments
exceeding the amount authorized by
law.
The accused persons are accused of
diverting about N4.9 billion belonging
to the Federal Government of Nigeria
for political and personal uses.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But after they took their pleas, their counsel,
Ferdinand Orbih, Ifedayo Adedipe and S. I. Ameh,
moved the motion for bail, having filed separate
applications in which they prayed the court to
release their clients on bail.
But the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said
he needed time to respond to the applications.
Justice Hassan consequently adjourned proceedings
to July 1 for hearing of the bail applications.
At the resumed hearing Friday, lawyers to the
defendants argued the applications.
Mr. Orbih prayed the court to admit the first
accused person to bail based on self-recognition
pending the hearing and determination of the
charges preferred against her. He also prayed the
court to grant her bail on very liberal terms.
Messrs. Adedipe, Ndukwe aligned themselves with
Mr. Orbih.
The prosecution counsel, Nkereuwem Anana,
opposed the applications.
However, he said where the court decides to
exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants, it
should impose conditions that would compel them
to attend trial.
Justice Hassan consequently adjourned to today for
ruling.