BEVERLY HILLS, January 05, (THEWILL) – Former National Chairman, Peoples’ Democratic Party, Haliru Mohammed, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja following allegations of his involvement in the $2 billion arms deal (Dasukigate) despite his arrival in court in wheelchair.
The former PDP chairman and his son are facing a four-count charge of financial misappropriation amounting to N300m, levelled against them and their company, BAM projects and Properties Ltd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Counsel to Abba Mohammed, Ogala Osoka, had made an application for bail on December 29 and filed the following day, pending the determination of the suit, saying the charges levelled against his client were bail able in nature.
He told the court that his client’s health condition is bad, and that he had been in custody for 41 days. He therefore requested the court to grant him bail, with conditions that were not excessive.
The counsel to the former PDP chair, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, also prayed the court to adopt the application of the first defendant for his client.
He told the court that Mr. Mohammed was undergoing surgery in London, but flew back into the country upon discovery of the charges against him and even had to be treated at an Abuja clinic.
He said exhibits four attached to his affidavit contained a letter given to him by the surgeon attending to his case adding that there were also pictures of the PDP chieftain while receiving treatment.
However, the counsel to the prosecution, Aliyu Yusuf, prayed the court to refuse the bail requested by Mr. Ibrahim, and Mr.Osoka but asked the court to issue an order for accelerated hearing.
He added that the allegations against the defendants were serious and that the first defendant did not prove that his health conditions cannot be treated in prison custody.
After listening to the counsel, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ruled that Abba Mohammed be remanded in Kuje prison.
He then ordered the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to place Haliru Mohammed intensive watch while he undergoes treatment at an Abuja hospital.
The matter was adjourned till January 7, 2016.
