Court Grants Babangida Aliyu, Nasko Bail
An Minna High Court presided over by Justice Aliyu Maiyaki yesterday granted the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, and his erstwhile Chief of Staff, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko bail.
In his ruling on the application for bail of the two accused persons who were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption-related offences, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki said he was releasing them on bail because the offences for which they were charged “are ordinarily bailable.”
The judge therefore released former governor on bail in the sum of N150million and two sureties in like sum.
In addition, he is to provide two sureties with landed property worth N200million each.
The property, according to the judge, should be domiciled within the jurisdiction of the court while the Certificate of Occupation (C of O) of the landed property should be deposited with the registrar of the court for the duration of the trial.
As for Nasko, Justice Maiyaki released him on bail in the sum of N100million and two sureties in like sum.
Unlike that of Aliyu, each of the sureties must have property worth N150million located within the jurisdiction of the court.
The CofO of the property should also be deposited with the Registrar of the court till the conclusion of the trial.
The judge, however warned that the court would not hesitate to revoke the bail granted if the court has evidence that the accused persons were interfering with the investigation of the case by the EFCC.
In arriving at his decision to grant Aliyu bail, Justice Maiyaki said: “There is no evidence that the applicant has ever been tried or convicted of any criminal offence.”
On the claim by the prosecution that the offence for which he was charged was rampant and as such should not be granted bail, Justice Maiyaki declared that “if an offence is rampant, it should not be a ground to refuse bail, no matter how rampant an offence is the judge should detach himself and treat each case on its merit.”
Justice Maiyaki on the bail for Nasko, said since the prosecution did not file a counteraffidavit to that filed by the second defendant, it was presumed the prosecution would not oppose his release on bail.
The affidavit deposed to for Nasko had described the second defendant as “a man of exemplary character who will make himself available and will not commit any offence when on bail. He will also have unfettered access to his counsel.”
Counsel to Nasko, Mammam Mike Usman (SAN) described the bail conditions “as too stringent” but expressed optimism that his client would try to meet the conditions.
It was learnt that the elder brother of ex-governor, the Sardauna Minna, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, and a former Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr Peter Sale Sarki, facilitated the bail of the ex-governor.
THISDAY gathered that to beat the huge crowd that gathered outside the court, the former governor and Nasko were brought into the court room at about 6.30a.m. when the court staff were yet to report for duty.
They were kept in the Registrars office until 9a.m.
Justice Maiyaki however, started reading his ruling commencing with that of the second defendant at 9.15a.m. lasting 30 minutes after which he read that of former governor for another 30 minutes.