Bail application hearing in alleged N8billion scam suit stalls

HEARING in the bail application for the four dismissed members of staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and six others from commercial banks, who are standing trial for alleged circulation of mutilated bank currencies worth N8 billion, stalled yesterday for non-service of processes on all parties.

Justice Adeyinka Faaji of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, directed parties in the suit to file their papers and subsequently fixed hearing for June 11. Argument had ensued on whether the bail application should be heard, since the processes were not duly served on parties.

When counsel to all the defendants could not reach common ground, justice Faaji suggested that the case be stood down till afternoon subject to agreement by all councils.

While the prosecution, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who is representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), agreed to that, other counsel expressed fear that the prosecution could still claim he had not enough time to go through the processes.

Some of the seven counsel holding briefs for the accused persons were ready for the proceedings when asked individually by the judge, who then asked all of them to reach common ground on the issue.

After they had agreed, Jacob told the court that they had agreed to come back on Thursday when all processes would have been filed. Justice Faaji then adjourned to Thursday for hearing on motion for bail applications and ordered all the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

Outside the court, relatives of the accused became hostile to journalists, especially photojournalists, who were at hand for photo shots of the accused persons.