N8bn currency scam: Court grants N10m bail to 5 defendants

Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on
Wednesday granted N10 million bail to each of the five defendants
arraigned in the alleged N8 billion currency scam.

Those granted bail are Ishaq Akano, Ayodele Festus, Hakeem
Oyebamiji, Ayodeji Alese and Sunday Ajuwe.
In her ruling, Abdulmaleek held that the defendants had been
languishing in Agodi Prison since 2015 because their counsel were
unable to convince the court that they would not jump bail.

“However, in their latest bail applications, their counsel were
able to make certain changes, hence the need to grant them bail,”
she said.

Abdulmaleek also ordered each defendant to provide two reliable
sureties who must be resident in Ibadan as part of the bail
conditions.

She, however, discharged Kayode Philip-Togun, the third
defendant, from the case after the EFCC counsel Mr Adebisi Adeniyi,
told her that another Judge had convicted him in a sister case in
which he was involved.

“The anti-graft commission had considered it necessary to drop
further charges against Philip-Togun because he had been convicted
in a sister case.

“Therefore, we pray my lord to withdraw Philip-Togun from
further prosecution in all other cases which he is involved because
he has been convicted in one of the cases.

“This is in accordance with Section 108 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015,’’ Adeniyi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akano, Ayodele,
Oyebamiji, Alese and Ajuwe broke into jubilation as the court
granted them bail.

NAN recalls that the defendants had since 2015 been facing
multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion,
forgery, stealing and recirculation of mutilated currency at the
Ibadan branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr Sikiru Adebayo, counsel to the fourth defendant (Akano), told
NAN that the court which is the last hope of the common man had
acted well.

“The bail that was granted is constitutional and
warrantable.

“According to the constitution, the accused are presumed
innocent until proven guilty, so, there is no need to keep them in
prison indefinitely.

“We are so grateful to the judge,” Adebayo said.

The case was adjourned till April 12 for the continuation of
trial. (NAN)