TheCable

Femi Fani-Kayode and Nenadi Usman, two former ministers and directors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in the 2015 general election, are to remain in prison till July 4 as a federal high court in Lagos on Monday reserved ruling on their bail applications.

Fani-Kayode and Usman, alongside Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited, were arraigned on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice M S Hassan on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorised by law.

The accused persons are alleged to have diverted about N4.9bn belonging to the federal government of Nigeria for political and personal uses.

They had pleaded not guilty.  Consequently, their counsel, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and S I Ameh (SAN) 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 Friday for hearing of the bail applications.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, counsel to the defendants (Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and  C I Ndukwe) argued the applications.

Orbih (SAN) 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. Adedipe (SAN), and Ndukwe aligned themselves with Orbih.

Prosecution counsel, Nkereuwem Mark Anana opposed the applications.

However, he stated that if 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 July 4 for ruling.