A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted the former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, a bail in the sum of N50 million.

Agunloye was charged with seven counts bordering on forgery, disobedience of presidential order, and corruption in the suit marked FCT/HC/CR/617/22 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Ruling on Agunloye’s bail application, the presiding judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, held that Agunloye placed enough facts before the court for it to be granted bail.

The judge added that a bail is meant to ensure a defendant is present in court to face trial.

Justice Onwuegbuzie added that the bail is at the discretion of the court.

The judge held that the court is favourable disposed to grant bail to the applicant/defendant and subsequently granted Agunloye bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must be persons of means and repute who possess landed property worth N300 million and must deposit photocopies of the documents of the property as well as their passports with the court.

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The judge added that the sureties must also be residents of Abuja, saying their residences would be verified by the registrar of the court

Justice Onwuegbuzie further ordered Agunloye to drop his passport with the court and must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.

Earlier, Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), said the former minister was not a flight risk, contrary to the prosecution’s claim to that effect.

He said Agunloye voluntarily gone to EFCC office on May 16, 2023, before the anti-graft agency wrote a letter inviting him on May 19, 2023.

Adedipe told the court that shortly after the May 16 visit to the EFCC, Agunloye fell ill and was admitted in a hospital, which he (Agunloye) duly notified the commission in writing and pleaded for time to enable him honour the invitation.

According to Adedipe, the defendant filed a suit in court when EFCC’s pressure was becoming too much and also notified the anti-graft agency of the pendency of the suit, only for EFCC to later declared him wanted on December 13, 2023.

The lawyer, therefore, urged the court to grant the defendant bail in self recognisance being a elderly statesman, the pioneer Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and his ill health or in the alternative be granted bail in most liberal terms.

Responding, the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, urged the court to refuse bail for the defendant being a flight risk.

He added that the court should equally discountenance the submission made by Adedipe from the Bar, urging the court to confine itself with the issues raised in affidavits and counter affidavits before it.

The EFCC equally urged the court to disregard the authority of Dasuki vs DG, DSS cited by Adedipe, arguing that using it would breach the prosecution’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Justice Onwuegbuzie, however, adjourned the case until February 12 for hearing.

The Star