He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those
that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the
ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud
in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.
Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in
the sum of N100m with two sureties each.
Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the
bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges
preferred against them after it was read out to them.
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The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the
court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which
was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.
Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court
of his client’s bail application dated May 6.
The other defendants similarly, moved their bail
applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.
Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants
were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition
that would make them appear for their trials.
Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of
the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum
within the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an
affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the
country without its permission.
He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would
earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.
