Posted by Amarachi on Wed 22nd Jan, 2025 - tori.ng
Ruling on the bail application filed by the defendant’s counsel on Tuesday, the court granted bail with strict conditions.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted bail to Jimi Lawal, a former adviser to the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alongside three others arraigned on charges of alleged fraud involving the diversion of ₦64.8 million.
The defendants, including the former Accountant General of Kaduna State, Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited, were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the ICPC, the defendants diverted public funds in three tranches: ₦10 million, ₦47.84 million, and ₦7.32 million.
The charges include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and other related offences.
Ruling on the bail application filed by the defendant's counsel on Tuesday, the court granted bail with strict conditions. Each defendant must provide two sureties with ₦50 million in like sum.
It was gathered that the sureties are also required to own landed properties in Kaduna with Certificates of Occupancy verified by the court.
Additionally, the defendants are required to deposit all travel documents, including international passports and any other official or green passports, with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The counsel for the defendants, Johnson Usman (SAN), expressed confidence that the bail conditions would be met promptly.
“The four defendants have been arraigned, and we moved a motion for their bail, which the court granted. However, pending the perfection of their bail conditions, they are to remain in prison custody. We are optimistic this will be completed promptly, possibly by tomorrow,” Usman stated.
The court has adjourned the trial to March 26 and 27, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.