SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, (THEWILL) – The Justice Yusuf Haliru-led Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court has granted hail to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu in the alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery of the senate standing rules, 2015, brought against them by the Federal Government.
The court also granted bail to former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and deputy clerk of the legislature, Benedict Efeturi, who are also defendants in the suit.
The judge, while pointing out on Monday that the essence of bail was to enable an accused person to stand trial, stated that the accused persons had not been proved guilty, hence the need to release them on bail.
He however ordered that the defendants were to provide two reasonable sureties who must be Nigerians and who must own property in Abuja, the failure of which they would be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja.
“Considering the submission of the counsels of the accused person, I allow all the accused persons to go home.
“They shall present two reasonable surities who should be Nigerian, owned landed properties in Asokoro maitama, Wuse 2 and Garki.
“If they fail to meet the bail condition they shall be remanded in Kuje prison,” Justice Haliru ruled.
Saraki’s counsel, Paul Erokoro had asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition, arguing that his client, being the Senate President, was “too big” to run away from trial.
His words, “The entire proof of service did not mention the third defendant (Saraki) in this case. The police never investigated the third defendant,” he said.
“It is a notorious fact that the third defendant has been standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, (CCT) so it is ridiculous to say he will run away.
“He is the president of the senate, where will he run to? He is too big to hide. I urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognition.”
Making his submission, counsel to Ekweremadu, Joseph Daodu also prayed the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.
He said, “The third and fourth (Ekweremadu) defendants are number one and two citizens of the legislature. It is shameful we are denting our democracy this way.
“We are ready for trial even today, so we urge your lordship to grant the fourth defendant bail.”
Also, counsel to Maikasuwa, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu asked the court to grant his client bail, saying that he was ready to stand trial.
“The essence of bail is to secure the attendance of the defendant. Throughout the period of investigation the defendant was never detained,” he said, adding that “Attendance to court is the primary objective of bail. We urge the court to grant the application.”
On his own part, counsel to Efeturi, Mahmud Magagi asked the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
According to him, “This application is seeking an order admitting the second defendant to bail pending the determination of the case.
“We urge your lordship to grant the second accused person bail on liberal terms.”
But counsel to the federal government, the prosecution, Muhammadu Diri said that the court could go ahead to grant Saraki bail.
He, however, “vehemently” opposed the bail applications of the other accused persons.
“The prosecution don’t want to oppose the bail application of Bukola Saraki because he is the senate president — we don’t want to create a vacuum in the legislature.
“But we vehemently oppose the bail applications of the fourth (Ekweremadu), first (Maikasuwa) and second (Efeturi) defendants. The three defendants evaded the process of service. The three defendants if granted bail may evade trial.”
The judge adjourned the case to July 11 for trial.
