Justice
A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 granted bail to Andrew Yakubu, a former Group
Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, who
is standing trial on charges of money laundering, non disclosure of
assets and fraud.
He
was admitted to bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in
like sum. One of the sureties must be an owner of landed property that
is worth the bail sum within the FCT, while the other surety shall be
employed and resident in Abuja having a permanent home address. The
sureties must depose to an affidavit of means, as well as, submit their
two recent passport photographs.
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on March 16, docked
Yakubu on a six-count charge, following which the court ordered his
remand in prison custody pending ruling on his bail application.
However,
Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, had through an application dated
March 13 prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.
He urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on self recognisance or on the alternative, admit him to bail on liberal terms
Raji
also brought a prayer asking the court for the interim release of his
client’s international passport to enable him embark on a three week
medical trip.
Arguing
the application, the learned silk told the court that the defendant had
no criminal record, adding that he was invited by the EFCC and
voluntarily surrendered himself.
Counsel
to EFCC, Prince Ben Ikani, countered the application and urged the
court to “enforce stringent conditions that will make the defendant
stand his trial”.
The judge relying on Section
158 of the ACJA regarding right to bail, noted that the defendant was
not arrested but reported himself to the EFCC upon invitation and the
respondent (EFCC) never denied anywhere that the defendant reported to
the EFCC.
He
added that, “the fact that the defendant did not refuse to honour the
invitation extended to him by EFCC has shown that he is ready to stand
his trial.”
On
the defendant's prayers for the interim release of his passport to
enable him travel abroad, Justice Mohammed said, “what the court is
concerned with at this stage is whether or not the defendant (Yakubu) is
entitled to bail”.
He said, “the court, at this stage, will
not delve into whether the defendant is entitled to travel or not as the
application before the court is for bail”.
In
refusing the prayer, the judge warned that the defendant should not
travel out of the country during the pendency of the case and ordered
his (Yakubu) remand in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail
terms.
“The defendant is to remain in prison custody pending fulfilment of all the bail conditions”, Justice Mohammed ruled.
The case has been adjourned to May 9, 2017 for hearing.
Yakubu’s
ordeal started on February 3, 2017, when operatives of the EFCC stormed
a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered a staggering
sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand
United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound
Sterling) stashed in a huge fire proof safe.
On
February 8, 2017, the NNPC boss reported to the Commission’s Kano Zonal
Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the
money recovered claiming it was part of monetary gifts he received on
various occasions.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
21st March, 2017
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