Court remands ex gov Dakingari, 2 others

AFederal High Court in BirninKebbi has remanded the former Kebbi State governor, Alhaji Usman Dakingari and two others, in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of their bail application on December, 10 2018.

Dakingari, Sunday Dogoyaro and Garba Kamba are standing trial on 13 count charges levelled against them by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged conspiracy and money laundering.

The accused were arraigned for their involvement in alleged sharing of N450, a part of the $115 million dollars collected from the former Minister of Petroleum

The offence is contrary to section 1A of money laundry Act 2015 punishable under section 16(2B among others.

The lead counsel to the EFCC,J.A Ojogbane in his submission urged the court to take their pleas and the 13 counts charges be read to them for an immediate commencement of their trial.

He told the Court that the prosecution was ready for the trial.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Counsel to Dakingari, Adegboyega Awomolo(SAN), while applying for the bail told the court that his client was a former Governor of Kebbi state without Resources, Deizani AlisonMadueke. record of criminal cases and would not jump bail if granted.

The counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants also pleaded with the court to grant them bail based on their recognition.

Responding to the bail applications,EFCC counsel Ojogbane said that the anti- graft agency has remand facilities in Birnin-Kebbi and Sokoto state where the defendants could be remanded before the adjourned date.

While ruling on their bail application,the presiding judge Justice Basse Onu ordered that the three defendants be remanded in Birnin-Kebbi remand facilities ofthe EFCC pending the ruling on their bail application on December 10,2018.