Shehu Sani, former senator representing Kaduna Central was on Monday arraigned on a two-count charge.
He however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Sani at a Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly collecting $15,000 from one Sani Dauda on November 20, 2019, under false pretence.
The former lawmaker was accused of promising to give the money to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, to influence some of pending cases involving Dauda in court.
He was also alleged to have collected $10,000 from Dauda to bribe Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the EFCC.
After the charges were read to the defendant, A. A Ibrahim, who represented Sani, prayed the court to grant him leave to move his client’s bail application.
Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Abba Mohammed, in his submissions, disagreed with the request by the defendant’s counsel to move the bail application.
He prayed the court for a remand order against the senator, arguing that he was just being served with the bail application.
He also asked the court to fix a date for trial to commence.
But, the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, after listening to the arguments of the counsel in the matter, stood it down the case until 12 noon to give the prosecution time to study the defendant’s bail application.
He said the plea for bail would be decided when the court reconvenes.
…more details later
