Although the Abuja High Court today granted the bail request of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, former Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and his son, Sagir Attahiru, it ordered their remand in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu was also granted bail
They are all standing trial on a – 22 count charge of unlawful diversion of N13.6 Billion meant for arms purchase and criminal breach of trust.
Delivering his ruling on their bail applications, the trial Judge, Justice Peter Affen acceded to the accuse persons request for freedom in the sum of N250 each, with two sureties in like sum.
“Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the accused persons are to be remanded in prison custody”, Justice Affen ordered.
Justice Affen ordered that one of the sureties must be a retired or serving Director in the Federal Civil Service.
He also specified that the second surety must be an owner of a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory, which value must not be below N250million and ordered that the title deed of the said property be tendered to the Registrar of the High Court for verification and custody.
The Judge also asked lawyers for the accused to vouch for the character of the two sureties who should depose to an affidavit of means.
According to EFCC, the accuse persons allegedly conspired to divert N13.6billion from the office of the NSA meant to purchase arms to fight insurgency.
Upon their arraignment, they had pleaded not guilty to each of the 22 counts and applied for bail, placing reliance on provisions of sections 158, 162, 165, 167 and 168 (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, as well as section 36(5) (6) of the 1999 constitution.
Although EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed the bail requests, Justice Affen ruled in favour of bail for the accuse persons.
