The Federal High Court, Abuja has granted the immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita bail.
The presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo on Monday granted her bail up to the tune of N100m with sureties in like sum.
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According to a statement by Tony Orilade, Acting Head, Media & Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), she was being prosecuted over N570, 000, 000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) alleged offences which involve Corruption, Fraud, Obtaining Estacodes and Duty Travel Allowance, DTA for journeys either not undertaken or not in existence.
Others that were arraigned alongside Oyo-Ita were: “Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Limited; Garba Umar and his companies: Slopes International Limited and Gooddeal Investments Limited. Ubong Okon Effiok was equally arraigned with his companies: U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.”
One of the counts against Oyo-Ita reads: “That you WINIFRED OYO-ITA aka Winifred Ekanett, whilst being the Head of Civil Service of the Federation) between 2nd August, 2016 and 28th February, 2018 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of an aggregate Sum of N62,215,169 (Sixty Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira) only paid into your Zenith Bank account No: 1001074067 knowing that the said funds formed part of the proceed of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud (purported estacodes, fee for journeys not embarked on) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
In his ruling after listening to the prosecution and defence counsels, the judge granted the former HoCSF bail in the sum of N100, 000, 000 (One Hundred Million Naira), two sureties in like sum.
One of the surety, he said must be a Civil Servants not below grade level 17 in any Federal Ministry, Agency and Parastatal.
The sureties, he further said must be residents of Abuja and one of them must be owner of property worth N100, 000, 000 (One Hundred Million Naira) in the Metropolis of Abuja.
The sureties, the judge ruled, should depose to affidavit of means and attach it to the affidavit. Also, the judge ruled that the international passport of the first defendant should be deposited with the Court Registrar.
The fourth and seventh defendant were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000, 000 (Fifty Million Naira) each and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a Civil Servant not below grade level 17 in any Federal Government Ministries, Agencies and Parastatal and the other surety must be gainful employed and shall deposed affidavit of means stating ability to pay N50, 000, 000 (Fifty Million Naira).
Beside, one of the sureties must own a property in the FCT worth N50, 000, 000, (Fifty Million Naira) while their international passports should be deposited with the Court Registrar.
In the interim, the defendants are to be released to their respective counsels who shall ensure that they report to the office of the EFCC for the next seven days between the hours of 10am and 12 noon, when they are expected to have fulfilled their bail conditions.
In the event that the bail conditions are not met within seven days, the judge further ruled that all the defendants shall be remanded at the EFCC custody until the conditions are met.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till May 27, 28 and 2, 3 and 4 of June, 2020 for trial.
