Justice Evoh Chukwu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has admitted a former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako, his son, Abdulaziz and two others who are standing trial over alleged money laundering to bail in the sum of N350m.
Justice Chukwu in his ruling yesterday on the bail application filed by Nyako and other accused person also held that the accused persons should produce two sureties each or in the alternative, a surety who is not less than a Director in the Civil Service.
The accused persons were also asked to drop their international passport and travel document with the deputy registrar of the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had last Wednesday arraigned Nyako, alongside three others on 37 count charge bothering on money laundering.
The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
When the matter came up yesterday, counsel to the defence, Kanu Agabi (SAN) brought an application for bail.
Agabi argued that what the prosecution emphasized in their opposition is that the accused will not come for trial if granted bail.
He added that the accused persons are happy to stand trial because it is an opportunity to clear themselves of all the allegations levelled against them adding that nothing should be done to stigmatize them pending their trial.
“They should not be committed to prison before the court declares them guilty”.
He however prayed the court to grant them bail on lenient terms.
While opposing the bail application, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) filed a counter affidavit praying the court to discountenance the argument of the defence.
He noted that the grant of bail is at the discretion of the court and in so, it must be done judicially and judiciously.
The court fixed September 29, October 22 and 23 for hearing.