November 23, 2024
Ali Ndume

By John Nwokocha Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja Friday, granted bail to Senator Ali Ndume, who has been detained in Kuje prison since Monday for being a  suretie for Abdulrasheed Maina, who is allegedly to have jumped bail, according to reports.

The New Narrative sources have it cthat Justice Abang in a ruling said he chose to grant the senator bail based on “his record of good behaviour before the court, notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed”.

Maina, ex- Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, is being investigateded by the EFCC on charges of money laundering involving N2bn.

On November 18, 2020, Justice Abang revoked the bail granted him. The judge also ordered Maina’s arrest and directed that his trial would proceed in absentia.

The judge also on Monday remanded Ndume in prison until he produced Maina or paid the sum of N500m bail bond to the Federation Account.

But through his lawyer, Marcel Oru, Ndume had on Tuesday filed an appeal against his remand order at the Court of Appeal, along with an application for the bail of the defendant filed before Justice Abang.

Justice Abang granted bail to Senator Ndume pending the hearing and determination of his appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge Monday’s order sending him to jail for his inability to produce the fleeing Maina.

He ordered the senator to produce one surety, who must be a resident of Abuja and present evidence of ownership of property anywhere in Abuja.

According to the judge, the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means to indicate his readiness to forfeit the bail guaranty should the senator jump bail.

The judge also ordered Ndume to deposit his passport with the Chief Registrar of the court.

Abang also ordered the lawmaker to file an undertaking that he would compile records of appeal and transmit it to the Court of Appeal within 10 days, a way the court wants him to demonstrate his readiness to prosecute his appeal.

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