Court grants Fayose’s ally, Agbele, N500m bail

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, bail in the sum of N500m.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who had on Wednesday ordered the remand of the accused in Kuje Prison, Abuja, ruled on Thursday that the N500m bail sum should be guaranteed by two sureties in the sum of N250m each.

The judge had remanded Agbele on Wednesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned the accused person on 11 counts of money laundering involving the sum of N1,219,000,000 said to be part of the N4,685,723,000 allegedly transferred unlawfully from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Arraigned along with Agbele were three companies, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited.

The prosecution stated in two of the counts that those with whom Agbele allegedly committed some of the crimes were at large.

The suspects on the run, according to EFCC, are a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; Lt. A. O Adewale; and Olalekan Ogunseye, said to be a sole signatory to the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.

All the 11 counts preferred against the accused were said to be contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended in 2012).

Agbele pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him on Wednesday.

Shortly after pleading not guilty to the charges, Justice Dimgba had heard his bail application and fixed Thursday for ruling.

In his ruling on Thursday, the judge held that the prosecution failed to show reasonable cause why the defendant should not be granted bail.

 The judge rejected the assertion of the prosecution led by Mr. Johnson Ojogbane to the effect that the defendant would jump bail, interfere with the course of justice or destroy evidence, if his application was granted.

He held that none of the claims was proved by the prosecution.

He agreed with Agbele’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN),  that an accused person was presumed innocent until proven otherwise, adding that the purpose of bail was to provide an accused person the best atmosphere to prepare for his trial.

Parts of the other bail conditions were that the two sureties to be provided by the defendant must have proof of ownership of property in either Abuja or Lagos.

The judge said the sureties could be private businessmen or professionals and if they were civil servants, they should be holding position not less than a director.

The defendant is also to deposit his passport with the court and would not be allowed to travel outside the country without permission of the court.