N15bn scam: Doma, others yet to fulfil bail condition

There were indications on Thursday that former Nasarawa State Governor Aliyu Doma and eight others had yet to meet the bail terms granted them by Justice Marcel Awokulehin of a Federal High Court in Lafia.

 

Doma and the other accused are facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 17 counts of laundering stolen state funds estimated at over N15bn.

EFCC sources told our correspondent that 24 hours after being granted bail none of the accused had been able to meet the conditions and as such remained in detention.

But when contacted to ascertain if the accused were still in the commission’s custody, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said he was not aware that any of them had been able to fulfil their bail conditions.

Awokulehin had while ruling on their bail application granted Doma bail in the sum of N300m and two sureties in like sum.

The eight others were granted bail in the sum of N200m each and two sureties in like sum.

While one of the two sureties must own property in any metropolis within the jurisdiction of the court, the second surety must be a civil servant in either in the federal or state government service not below Level 15.

All the accused were told by the judge to deposit their passports with the court.

They are also to remain in EFCC custody in Abuja pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The former governor and eight others were arraigned on October 18, 2011.

Doma was arraigned along with Senator John Dangoyi, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Timothy Anjide, Dauda Egwa, Suleiman Ibrahim, Broworks Ltd and Green Forest Investment Ltd.

The charges filed against two other accused, John Aigbakhode and Incapint Nig Ltd, who are still at large, were stepped down.

The case was adjourned until December 6 and 7, 2011, for the substantive trial.
 Written by  Friday Olokor                  Courtesy Of: Punch