A Federal High Court in Abuja, has granted bail to suspended Accountant-general of the federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris.
Ruling on the bail application on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, granted all the terms and conditions of the administrative bail earlier granted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The legal counsel to Idris during court proceedings asked the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms as the offence he was charged with was not a capital offence. He submitted that the offence his client was charged with, is bailable and not a capital offence.
However, Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN), legal counsel to EFCC rejected the motion, reminding the court that misappropriation of public funds by public officers is likened to genocide, a crime against humanity.
He told the court to take judicial notice on the fact that bail is regulated by the court under Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). He noted that though the offence is not capital, but it is weighty.
Delivering judgement on Thursday, Ajayi said “In line with the due process and supremacy of the law, the Defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.”
The judge added that as part of their conditions for bail, the defendants must remain within the FCT, and must seek consent before travelling out.
The defendants were also ordered to sign an affidavit promising to follow all of their bail terms.
They are to deposit their passports before the court and also undertake that they would not procure alternative passports during the pendency of their trial.
Adeyemi said the defendants must remain in Kuje correctional facility until they perfect the bail conditions.
