The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu and Umar Nasko before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, of an Abuja Federal High Court on a fresh eight-count money laundering charge.
They were alleged to have conspired and diverted over N1billion from Ecological Fund the state received from the Federal Government in 2014.
Aliyu and Nasko, who served as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources under Aliyu’s administration between 2007 and 2015, were alleged to have paid into the account of a private company, D-Sabrin International Limited through the Niger State Minister of Environment.
They however pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read to them, upon which Mamman Usman SAN, counsel to the defendants moved their bail application before the court, stressing that they were earlier granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
Prosecuting counsel, Ben Ikani, urged the court to impose conditions that would secure the presence of the defendants for their trial, even though he was not opposing the bail, since the offences they were charged for were bailable.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the former governor and his co-defendants bail to the sum N200million with two sureties who could be public servants or professionals.
The surety must not be below the rank of a Director, must be owners of landed property within the Federal Capital Territory and not in the satellite towns, while they are also expected to surrender their international passports and not travel outside the country except with the express permission of the court.
“The defendants are however to be remanded in Kuje Prison if the bail is not perfected within 48 hours”, the Judge held, even though the former governor was sighted driving out of the court premises immediately the matter was adjourned to July 6 and 7, 2017 for trial.
It will be recalled that the duo are currently facing a separate charge before a high court at Minna, Niger State.
