Alleged N109b fraud: Court rules on ex-AGF, others’ bail applications today

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned till today, ruling on the bail application of former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and three others over alleged N109.5 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had, on Friday, arraigned the defendants on a 14-count charge. Besides the ex-AGF, the rest are Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

Justice O. Adeyemi Ajayi fixed the date after listening to submissions of all parties in the matter. The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje correctional centre.

At the resumed sitting, counsel to Idris, Chris Uche (SAN), prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms, saying the offence he was charged attracts bail, since it is not a capital offence.

Lawyers to the other defendants, P.B Abalaka for the third and Mohammed Ndayako (SAN) for the fourth accused, aligned with Uche.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), while opposing the bail, had argued that misappropriation of public funds by public officers was akin to genocide and crime against humanity.