According to the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Maiyaki, Beji who had been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for about two weeks now, is to remain in prison custody until hearing on his bail application on Friday June 23.
A Minna High Court Monday, remanded the Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tanko Beji in prison custody.
According to the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Maiyaki, Beji who had been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for about two weeks now, is to remain in prison custody until hearing on his bail application on Friday June 23.
Counsel to the former Governor Muazu Babaginda Aliyu Ayodele Oladeji had urged the court to grant Beji bail on the point of law that he is a lawyer who has been practicing in the state, but Counsel to the EFCC, Gbolahon Latona argued against the bail, saying the offence which Beji is being charge, is not ordinary bailable even as he urged the Judge to use his discretion on the matter.
The chairman was arraigned today by the anti-graft body in amended charges which parried him alongside Muazu and former commissioner of environment, Umar Mohammed Nasko for criminal breach of trust punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Niger State, Cap 94, Vol. 3 Laws of 1992.
In the amended charge, the former Governor who is the first accused in the case, is standing trail on seven count charges based on criminal breach of trust and abuse of office, while he was governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, while Beji who is now the second accused person is facing the court on two count charge of criminal breach of trust and abetting the commission of crime punishable under Sections 85 and 312 of the Penal Code of Niger state.
Nasko on the other hand is standing trial on three count charges including criminal breach of trust and abuse of office.
The three accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Justice Maiyaki however did not temper with the earlier bail granted Muazu and Nasko, saying the amended charges do not entails tempering with the their bail especially that they did not violate the stipulated bail conditions.
The presiding Judge fixed September 11 to 15 for the hearing on the substantive suit.
