A Federal Capital Territory High Court has remanded the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three other defendants be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Facility for alleged illegal diversion of N109.4 billion in public funds.
The former AGF and his fellow respondents – Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited, earlier pleaded not guilty to the 14 count of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering charge levelled against them by the EFCC.
Trial Justice A.O. Adeyemi Ajayi, who remanded the suspended AGF and other defendants in the case, said they would remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until their bail applications were heard on Wednesday.
Counsel to Mr Idris, Chris Uche prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted to him by the antigraft agency.
Mr Uche added that the EFCC has the defendants international passport, and as such they should be allowed to come back on Monday to take their bail application.
The lawyer asked the court to permit the defendants to come back on Monday and not remand them at any correctional facility.
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said the administrative bail ended once the charge was filed.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi held that the court is not a puppet to dance to the rhythm of public opinions.
Interjecting, Idris’ counsel pleaded with the court that due to the porous security nature of the Kuje correctional facility, his client should be remanded in the EFCC custody.
Justice Ajayi however, repeatedly ordered the Senior Advocate to sit down, stressing that nobody can overturn her orders before her.
She subsequently adjourned proceedings till the 27th of July for hearing of bail applications.