Former Niger gov, Aliyu, ex-Chief of Staff get N750m bail

A Minna high court, yesterday, granted former governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and his one-time Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Umar Nasko bail.
Justice Aliyu Maiyaki, in his ruling on the application for bail by the two accused persons, who were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged corruption and other offences, said he was granting them bail because the offences for which they were charged “are ordinarily bailable.”

The judge granted Aliyu N150 million bail with two sureties in like sum. He is also to provide two sureties with landed properties in Minna worth N200 million each, and that the Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, of the landed properties be deposited with the Court Registrar for the duration of the trial.
Nasko was granted N100 million bail with two sureties in like sum. But in his case, his surety must have properties worth N150 million, located within the jurisdiction of the court and the Cs of O of the properties must also be deposited with the Registrar till the completion of the trial.
Justice Maiyaki, however, warned that the court may revoke the bails granted the duo if there are evidences that the accused persons were interfering with EFCC investigations.
Vanguard gathered that the accused were brought into the court room at 6.30a.m., when staff were yet to report for duty, to avoid any security breach by some hoodlums, and kept in the Registrar’s office until 9a.m. Proceedings, however, started at 9.15a.m. and lasted for about one hour.