Justice Yusuf Halilu of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has revoked the bail earlier granted Mr Geoffrey Akindele, one of the defendants in the trial of a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, over N109.5billion fraud allegation.
Akindele, second defendant in the trial and Ahmed Idris are standing trial alongside Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Ltd, on a 14-count charge bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of N109.5 billion.
Akindele was a Technical Assistant to the embattled former Accountant-General of the Federation.
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Justice Yusuf Halilu revoked Akindele’s bail conditions due to his non-appearance in court for continuation of trial within trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Akindele was conspicuously absent in court as at the time the case was called, though Idris and Usman were in court.
Akindele’s counsel, S.E. Adino had told the court that his client was on the way to attend trial, submitting that he has always been in court to face trial.
Inspite of pleas by Adino, Justice Halilu insisted on revoking the second defendant’s bail.
The Judge, after listening to Adino, reasoned that, “when a court grants a defendant bail, such person must reciprocate the gesture by attending court for trial.
The court held that Akindele had clearly not shown good character and conduct by his refusal to attend court, adding that he had abused the terms of his bail.
Consequently, Justice Halilu revoked Akindele’s bail and ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police and the EFCC to arrest and produce him in court in the next adjourned date.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, had informed the court that the prosecution received a letter from counsel to Idris and did not receive any from the counsel for Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Ltd.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to February 1, 2024 for definite hearing.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government is prosecuting Ahmed Idris, the former Accountant General of the Federation and the other defendants for their involvement in the N109billion fraud allegation.
Idris, among others, was alleged to have between February and December, 2021, while being a public servant by virtue of his position as Accountant-General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, the second defendant, a gratification of the aggregate sum of N15, 136, 221, 921.46, which was converted to dollars equivalent by Akindele.
Idris and Akindele were accused of committing criminal breach of trust while being entrusted with certain property, to wit N84,390,000,000 between February and November, 2021, by dishonestly receiving the said amount from the Federal Government through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the anti-corruption agency, which eventually led to the ongoing trial.
