A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja heard that one of the police officers attached to the former Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole was the one that alerted the nation's anti-graft agency that his boss was hatching a plan to escape to London to evade arrest.
The lawyer for Nigeria's anti-graft agency told the Abuja court that a Mobile policeman attached to the former Speaker informed a security operative attached to the EFCC that Bankole had allegedly plotted to escape to the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday prior to his arrest Sunday night giving an insight on why the former Nigerian number four citizen was arrested a day before he handed over officially to his successor.
The former speaker who appeared in court Friday would however spend the weekend in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) custody
The Abuja court also adjourned ruling on his bail application till Monday.
Following the ruling by Justice Donatus Okorowo, Bankole’s supporters, mostly women who had gathered at the court in solidarity with him wept, but Bankole was unperturbed.
Justice Okorowo said he needed time to give a considered ruling on Bankole’s bail application because of the many authorities cited by counsels on both sides.
The matter which initially began at 12 noon was stood down till later in the day on request by Bankole’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) who wanted to reply to the counter-affidavit of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
Awomolo on resumption moved the bail application and urged the court to admit Bankole to bail on self-recognition.
He described as hearsay and speculative claims by the EFCC that the accused person would jump bail if the bail is granted.
Awomolo argued that the fear that an accused person would jump bail is not a reason in law for denying him bail because to jump bail has its own criminal penalties.
“The world is now a global village where criminals have no hiding place”, Awomolo said.
The lawyer for Nigeria's anti-graft agency told the Abuja court that a Mobile policeman attached to the former Speaker informed a security operative attached to the EFCC that Bankole had allegedly plotted to escape to the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday prior to his arrest Sunday night giving an insight on why the former Nigerian number four citizen was arrested a day before he handed over officially to his successor.
The former speaker who appeared in court Friday would however spend the weekend in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) custody
The Abuja court also adjourned ruling on his bail application till Monday.
Following the ruling by Justice Donatus Okorowo, Bankole’s supporters, mostly women who had gathered at the court in solidarity with him wept, but Bankole was unperturbed.
Justice Okorowo said he needed time to give a considered ruling on Bankole’s bail application because of the many authorities cited by counsels on both sides.
The matter which initially began at 12 noon was stood down till later in the day on request by Bankole’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) who wanted to reply to the counter-affidavit of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
Awomolo on resumption moved the bail application and urged the court to admit Bankole to bail on self-recognition.
He described as hearsay and speculative claims by the EFCC that the accused person would jump bail if the bail is granted.
Awomolo argued that the fear that an accused person would jump bail is not a reason in law for denying him bail because to jump bail has its own criminal penalties.
“The world is now a global village where criminals have no hiding place”, Awomolo said.
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