The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has ruled that Femi Fani-Kayode, the spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan campaign in 2015, and Nenadi Usman, Former Finance Minister; and Danjuma Yusuf, be released on bail provided they meet the bail conditions. The case was adjourned to the 21st of October, 2016.
Justice Muslim Sule Hassan gave the ruling on Monday, July 4th, 2016, stating that the three applicants must deposit a sum of N250million each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court. The properties must be submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for verification.
Also, the applicants must submit their international passports to the Court Registrar. In the event that EFCC failed to verify within 7 days, the court registrar will do the verification.
The court ruled in favor of the applicants stating that there was no evidence that the applicants will interfere with the trial or that they will jump bail. The judge said it would be wrong for the court to refuse them bail on unsubstantiated reasons, saying that the court is not allowed to apply its discretion indiscriminately. Adding that the applicants never breached the terms on which EFCC granted them administrative bail. He also said it would be against the law that presumes an accused person innocent until proven otherwise, adding that the court will soon be going on vacation, “detaining the applicants in court during the long period that the court will be on vacation will be wrong” the judge said.
Fani-Kayode, Usman, and Danjuma are facing a 17-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering which are criminal offenses that could send them to jail for fourteen years.
They were first arraigned on June 28th, 2016 after a failed attempt to arraign them on Tuesday, June 21st, 2016.
Mr. Fani-Kayode and Nnadi Usman allegedly laundered over two billion naira from funds illegally taken from the office of the National Security Adviser and diverted to the Presidential Campaigns of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
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