N2.8bn Fraud: Abuja Court Takes Decision on Ex-Surveyor General of the Federation
- An FCT high court has turned down the request to keep Ebisintei Awudu, the former surveyor-general of the federation in custody
- Awudu was arraigned on a 22-count charge of fraud by the ICPC on Monday, July 12, before Justice Olusegun Adeniyi
- The former surveyor-general who pleaded not guilty to all counts was granted bail in the sum of N100 million and asked to produce a surety
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FCT, Abuja - Ebisintei Awudu, the former surveyor-general of the federation, was on Monday, July 12, granted bail by an Abuja court.
Channels TV reports that Federal Capital Territory high court in Maitama set the bail for Awudu who was arraigned before Justice Olusegun Adeniyi at N100 million.
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In his ruling, Justice Adeniyi asked the defendant to produce a surety who must be a director-general, The Cable added.
Case adjourned
The former surveyor-general of the federation is facing a 22-count charge of fraud. He is also being accused of awarding multiple contracts worth over N2 billion to a company where he is said to be a director and shareholder.
He reportedly also received over N300m as gratification from a contractor executing different contracts.
Pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions, the former surveyor-general will remain in the detention facility of ICPC. The judge adjourned the case to September 13 for the commencement of trial.
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Court grants JAMB's ex-registrar Ojerinde bail
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja in a hearing presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Thursday, July 8, granted bail to Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, the former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
According to the court's decision, the bail, which is in the sum of N200 million, goes with two sureties resident in the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Egwuatu noted that one of the sureties must be a professor in a federal university, and the other must own a property in Abuja.
Why granting bail to Abidemi Rufai is dangerous
Meanwhile, the United States justice department has revealed why it will be dangerous to grant bail to Abidemi Rufai, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state.
A letter to Ramon Reyes, the US magistrate judge in the Eastern District of New York, said if Rufai escapes to Nigeria after being granted bail, "extradition will be extraordinarily difficult or impossible because of his ties to the Nigerian government.
The letter was written by the acting US attorney, Tessa Gorman.
Rufai was arrested in the US over alleged $350,000 unemployment benefits fraud.
Source: Legit.ng
