TheCable

The federal high court, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered the remand of  Shamsudeen Bala, son of  the immediate past FCT minister, in Kuje Prison, pending ruling on his bail application.

Bala was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.1bn.

He pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against him.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the presiding judge, adjourned trial to March 27 and 28, and shifted ruling on bail application to Friday.

Chris Uche (SAN), defence counsel, had asked the court to grant his client bail.

He told the court that he had filed and served a motion on notice for the bail, dated January 27.

He said the motion was supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit, and that he was relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit.

He added that if bail was granted to the defendant, he would be available for trial, and that he would not abuse the privilege.

But Ben Ikani, prosecution counsel, opposed the application, saying the defendant could not be trusted.

He said the defendant refused to submit his international passport to the EFCC, which showed him to be a flight risk.

Ikani added the prosecution had filed an 11-paragraph affidavit, dated January 31.

He urged the court to turned down the request for bail.

The court adjourned afterwards to Friday.