Court rules on bail applications by Moro, Alayebami today

THE Federal High Court, Abuja will today rule on the bail applications filed by former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and an Assistant Director in the ministry, F.O. Alayebami.

The third defendant, Anastasia Nwaobia, will however, continue to enjoy administrative bail pending her trial.

The trio are arraigned in connection with a N675 million immigration jobs scam.

Justice Anwuli Chikwere, however, stood down the application made by the fourth defendant on technical ground.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the fourth defendant, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, had urged the court to strike out the name of its client, Drexel Global Technical Limited, noting that it was erroneously included.

He argued that in counts 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11, no allegations were made against Drexel Global Technical Limited, an entirely different entity.

In the circumstance, he made a verbal application, urging that the name of the fourth defendant be struck out, adding that the prosecution may bring application to amend such error subsequently.

But counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Aliyu Yusuf, objected the application on the ground that the defendant was not in court and as such, the application couldn’t be tendered.

He also informed the court that the counsel to the fourth defendant ought to file a formal application to enable them argue the case. According to him, in count seven, Drexel Global Nigeria Limited was linked to the fourth defendant, Drexel Global Technical Limited and that one was part and parcel of the other.

“So, we are opposing the application that Drexel Global Technical Limited be struck out,” he said.

But Justice Chikwere noted that in such circumstance, EFCC should charge Drexel Global Nigeria Limited as the fifth defendant.

The judge also asked if there was any bail application from the fourth defendant but when answered in the negative, she, thus, requested that the court concentrate on hearing bail applications for the first, second and the third defendants.