The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has continued its moves against former top government officials who allegedly stole public funds during their tenure in office.
The anti-graft agency has also taken legal action against some of those involved with a view to recovering the alleged stolen funds from them.
In this recent case, Justice A. B. Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Minna, Niger State revoked the bail granted a former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Umar Gado Nasko.
According to The Nation, the bail was revoked because the duo failed to appear in court, a statement by the Acting Head of Media & Publicity of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, said.
According to the statement, Justice Aliyu, who was visibly angry over the absence of the ex-governor and Nasko in court despite the issuance of a hearing notice. He also ordered a bench warrant against the duo for showing disrespect to the court.
The EFCC is prosecuting Babangida Aliyu and Nasko, following their alleged involvement in an alleged N2 billion money laundering and other financial crimes.
The accused persons were formerly arraigned before Justice Bogoro Yelin where they pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence. But Justice Yelin has been transferred to another jurisdiction while he is presently part of judges handling disputes at the election petitions tribunals.
The matter was reassigned to Justice Aliyu, who is handling the matter de novo(afresh) while the hearing notices were issued to the parties over the fresh arraignment of Babangida Aliyu and Nasko.
At the time the matter came up yesterday, none of the accused persons was in court just as their lawyers were absent. Lawyer to one of the accused persons, Mr. Osuman Mamma (SAN) was said to have written to the court that he was before an election petitions tribunal.
However, the senior advocate reportedly refused to send a lawyer to represent him. The development prompted the judge to revoke the bail and later ordered the warrant of arrest.
The judge consequently adjourned the case till May 27.
More developments on whether the accused have been arrested in compliance with the order of the court on the matter are expected before the next adjourned date.
The EFCC has been recording successes in the ongoing fight against graft in the country in line with the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
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