Former National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Bello, was yesterday wheeled into the dock of the Federal High Court, Abuja. He was arraigned alongside his son, Abba, on a four-count criminal charge of alleged N300 million fraud.
Although ruling on their bail applications was deferred to tomorrow, the court has ordered the Inspector-General of Police [IGP], Solomon Arase to keep an eye on Bello, who was taken back to Abuja Clinics, while his son was remanded in Kuje Prisons.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed charges against them alongside a firm, BAM Projects and Properties Limited.
In the charge sheet, the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused persons, through the firm, withdrew N300 million from an account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The money, according to the commission, was said to have been transferred to the accused persons, 11 days to the 2015 presidential election, by the embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd).
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge dated December 23, but amended on December 30, 2015.
Immediately after taking their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, asked the court to remand them in prison custody pending their trial.
However, their counsel, O. Osoka and Abdulaziz Ibrahim, opposed the remand application, saying their clients already filed separate motions for bail.
In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed said: “The first defendant (Abba) is hereby remanded in Kuje Prisons. While the third defendant (Bello) having sworn to an affidavit that he is on admission at Abuja Clinics, is hereby put under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police at Abuja Clinics pending the determination of their applications.”
Bello was in his wheelchair, supported by two nurses from the hospital throughout the proceedings. Intermittently, the former Defence Minister recites the carbi, Muslims’ prayer bead while his bail applications and that of his son were being argued by their lawyers.
However, in opposing the defendants’ bail applications, the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Yusuf, who filed a counter affidavit, urged the court to decline the requests.
He submitted that though the court had the discretion to either refuse or grant the applications, but urged the court to exercise its discretion “judiciously and judicially”.
Yusuf said the defendants “have not placed sufficient materials before the court” to warrant their bail.
In countering Bello’s alleged deteriorating health condition, the prosecution counsel cited the case of Abiola and the Federal Government and said, “the applicant has to convince the court that the ailment in which he is suffering from cannot be treated while in prison custody.
The prosecution urged the court to reject the bail application in view of the severity of the charges, adding that if convicted, the accused person could get the maximum 14 years.
Dasuki and many others are already being prosecuted before two judges of the Federal Capital Territory High Court., Maitama, Abuja, over the alleged diversion of N45 billion meant for procurement of arms.
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