A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has granted former special adviser on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the state, Ope Saraki, N300m bail with two sureties.
Saraki, an adviser to the immediate past governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, was dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N220 million fraud.
He was arraigned on a-two count charge of corrupt practices and other related offences to which he pleaded not
guilty.
The counts read: “That you, Ope Saraki, sometime in 2012 whilst being the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on MDG, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly acquired indirectly a private interest in contract worth N171.99,000.00 awarded to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited, for the purchase of 13 units of Ambulances for 13 general/specialist hospitals in Kwara state, contract connected to your office contrary to section 12 of the corrupt practices and other related offences Act 2000, and punishable under the same law.
“That you, Ope Saraki, sometime in 2012 whilst being the Special Adviser to the Kwara State on MDG, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly acquired indirectly a private interest in contract worth N49,349,827.00 awarded to MC Drive Logistics and Institute Limited, for the purchase of 13 units of 100 KVA Generators for 13 general/specialist hospitals in Kwara, contract connected to your office contrary to section 12 of the corrupt practices and other related offences Act 2000, and punishable under the same law.”
EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, who prayed the court to remand Saraki in prison custody pending the determination of the case, applied for a date for trial.
But, the lead counsel to the defendant, Joshua Olatoki (SAN), opposed the application, praying the court to grant his client bail pending the trial.
Olatoki said, “As a senior counsel speaking from the bar, I submit that the two count charges are the same material particular before a Federal High Court. Trial has commenced before the Federal High Court, Ilorin in 2015. The defendant is on bail by self-recognisance; that what led to this case started in 2013 and the EFCC had granted him
administrative bail from then till yesterday. It is time for the court not to allow its integrity to be rubbished by any party.
“Having been granted bail, I submit that he has not misused the opportunity. I urge my lord to grant him bail in this charge. His international passport is in the possession of the EFCC, so he has nowhere to run to. He has reliable sureties within the jurisdiction of this court. This is a matter that is ordinarily bailable and the court has the discretion to grant bail without any formal application.
“I also urge my lord to grant him bail on liberal terms. Alternatively, if he is to be remanded, I suggest he be remanded in EFCC’s custody.”
Responding, the EFCC counsel submitted: “This is a court of record. The appropriate thing to do is for the parties to file proper application. On this note, I urge the court to discountenance the evidence of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”
In her ruling, Justice Adenike Akinpelu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300 million and two sureties pending the formal application for his bail.
She added that the defendant’s international passport should remain in possession of the EFCC.
The case was adjourned till April 16th for hearing of the bail application and trial.