Ex-Gov Ngillari, His Commissioner Granted Bail

A High Court, sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital,  yesterday granted bail to the former governor of the state, Bala James Ngillari and his Finance Commissioner, Sanda Lammurde, while the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Welye, is yet to secure bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Tuesday arraigned the former governor, the then  SSG and the former finance commissioner before the State High Court on a 17-count charge ranging from criminal conspiracy to award a contract for the purchase of 25 cars at the cost of N160 million without following due process. The three accused persons had pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charged were read to them, accusing them of allegedly awarding the contract without obtaining the certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the state procurement agency.

While calling for adjournment, counsel to the EFCC, Ahmad Muttaka asked the court to remand the accused in prison, a position objected to by the counsel to the accused, Akamode Abayomi and Leonard Nzadon  who requested that their clients be kept in EFCC custody, arguing that the accused had already been granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency and had been reporting to the commission. The presiding judge, Justice Nathan Musa in his ruling said based on Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution as amended he granted bail to  Ngillari and his commissioner, while the SSG was not granted bail because his counsel submitted the application for bail late, so he was remanded in the custody of the EFCC until when the court will grant him bail.