A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Monday, July 4, 2016 granted bail to Jide Omokore, an aide to the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and five others.
Omokore, a businessman Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, and Andrew Yakubu, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count charge bothering on money laundering.
Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako who gave the ruling, ordered the defendants to provide bail bonds of N50 million each, with one surety in like sum.
Also, surety should have properties in Abuja and should depose to affidavit of means; while the defendants should submit their international passport(s). They are to remain in the court premises until they meet their bail conditions.
The EFCC earlier struck out the name of one of the defendants, Kola Aluko, who is said to be at large.
Aluko jointly owns Atlantic Energy with Omokore. The company was allegedly used for the diversion of N400 million in the guise of importing petroleum products in 2011.
Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel, had asked the judge to remove Aluko’s name from the charge sheet since he could not be reached and had not been served the notice of summons.
Jacobs had argued that the prosecution was not under compulsion to produce a defendant at large before arraigning other co-accused in the same matter.
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