Shehu Sani, former Senator, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, who was arraigned on Monday on a two-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, has been granted bail.
Sani, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), at a Federal High Court, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the two count charge when they were read out to him in the court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo admitted Sani to bail in the sum of N10m and a surety in likes sum.
The surety, the court held, must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and that the value of the said property must not be less than the bail sum.
The registrar of the court, the court held should inspect the property.
Other bail conditions include that, Sani should deposit his international passport with the court and must not travel outside the country without the permission of the court.
His counsel, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), had moved an application for his bail on liberal terms immediately after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His counsel told the court that the former Senator is a responsible married man with children, that he will not do anything capable of disrupting investigation by the EFCC and that he is ready to present reasonable persons as sureties to ensure his attendance at trial.
In the 15-paragraph affidavit accompanying the bail application, one Suleiman Ahmed, an aide to Sani averred that, on January 9, the former Senator was subjected to a biometric test, which he complied with but declined to lift up a billboard for the officers to snap him, to tarnish his political career.
He said Sani, if granted bail, can adequately prepare for his defence, while also catering for his family and business, just as he said that the offences for which the former lawmaker was charged do not attract capital punishment.
Opposing the bail application, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, urged the court to decline the bail application on the ground that he will jump bail.
He told the court in a six paragraphs affidavit that Sani had several time refused to honour the invitation of the anti-graft agency during investigation and that, there is the tendency of him jumping bail if granted.
The prosecution indicated that 14 witnesses shall be called in the matter to prove its case against the former lawmaker.
However, Ekwo said he was disposed to granting Sani bail because the offences he is charged with are bailable one.
Count one reads: “That you, on November 20, 2019, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $15, 000 cash from Alhaji Sani Dauda (ASD), under the false pretence that the money was meant to bribe four judges and a prosecutor, pursuant to your discussion with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), during which he informed you that he has directed four judges not to hear any case between Alhaji Sani Dauda and Abubakar Musa, which representation you know to be false, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offence Act No. 14 of 2006.”
He was also accused in count two of obtaining the sum of $10, 000 cash from Alhaji Sani Mohammed, under false pretence that the money was meant to bribe the Acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
