Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, granted bail to Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (rtd), who is being prosecuted on a 3-count charge of abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136.325 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Omenyi is standing trial alongside his company, Huzee Nigerian Company, for his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the purchase of arms by the military.
Upon his arraignment last Friday, Omenyi’s counsel, Wahab Olatunji urged the court to admit his client to bail adding that the law presumed the accused innocent until proven otherwise.
But, counsel to EFCC, M. S. Abubakar kicked, urging the court to be mindful of the impact of the crime on the society and bearing in mind the fact that, the case bordered on the alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase of arms by some members of the military.
In his ruling Monday, Justice Dimgba admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N60 million with two sureties in the sum of N30 million each. The sureties, must be either business men, professionals or civil servants not be less than the rank of an assistant director. The sureties must have landed properties in the FCT or in satellite towns in Lagos and the defendant must deposit his international passport with the court.
Meanwhile, the accused person is to be remanded in Kuje prison pending the perfection of his bail terms while the case has been adjourned to December 15, January 23 and 24, 2017 for hearing.
Similarly, Justice A. S. Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, adjourned to Tuesday (today) for further hearing on a corruption case involving a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin and two others: Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia (rtd) and Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (rtd).
Shortly after the counsels have entered their appearances, Jibrin’s counsel, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, drew the attention of the court to the fact that, the document used in the transaction of the property allegedly acquired by his client was not front-loaded in the proof of evidence by the prosecution.
He invited the court to order the prosecution to provide same as stipulated by law. Maikyau, also prayed the court for the release of the international passport of his client to enable him travel abroad for medicals.
However, counsel to EFCC, Joseph O. Uzor, wanted the defence to indicate the time his client is embarking on the trip and how long his is staying, should the court is inclined to grant his application.
He also urged the court to enforce the return of the passport immediately the applicant returns from the trip.
In granting the application, Justice Umar ordered the defence counsel to indicate the time his client is staying and ensure the return of the passport to the court when he is back.
Jibrin and his co-accused are standing trial alongside Habour Bay International Limited, a company linked to the first defendant, on a 4-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The naval chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract being captured in the budget.
It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Jibrin) became the buyer.
The offence is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.
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