Yakubu Busari,Jos
The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital, yesterday granted the bail application for former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, the former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Raymond Dabo and Evangelist Lyon’s Sunday Jatau, the state co-ordinator of the state campaign team for the Goodluck /Sambo Presidential ticket in the 2015 elections.
Justice Musa Haruna Kurya granted the trio an unconditional bail based on on self recognition while the case filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was adjourned to February 13 and14 for continuation of hearing .
The EFCC had arraigned the trio on two count charge each . In the suit, the Federal Government of Nigeria Vs Sarah Ochekpe, Raymond Dabo and Lyon Sunday Jatau, the prosecution counsel, Barr. A Yusuf Muchaka told the court the two count charges dated December 13, 2017 with affidavits of completion of thorough investigation by Olayaika Rotimi, an operative with EFCC, was in compliance with administration of criminal justice .
According to him the motion was served on the 18/01/2018 apply to tender same before the honourable court as endorsement issue evidence is also attached.
The Prosecution counsel application was granted by Justice, Musa Haruna Kurya when the registrar of the court read the charges to each one of them, “dealing with money laundering and the receipt of N450 million in cash through Mrs Diezani A. Maduke who is at large”. He said the money was diverted to personal use and told them money laundering is an offense punishable under section 379 of the Act.
Then Justice Musa Haruna Kurya asked each of them whether they understood the charges as read and they all said ,”Yes My Lord”.
However, conceding that they are plead not guilty, the prosecution counsel said he was relying on section 396 sub section 3 of the administration of the justice act which allows for the arraigned to be tried from day to day until the final determination on the matter and asked that they be remanded in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Barr. Sunny Gabriel Odey then presented his applications for bail of the three defendants which Justice Kurya granted. The court was filled to capacity with PDP stakeholders who came to show solidarity to the trio.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Gorge Daika he has blasted the All Progressive Congress, (APC) for staging the allegation of missing funds meant for electioneering campaign by the last regime, stating that it was an “unfounded rumour tailored towards blackmailing the opposition party in the state.
“The government is actually not pursuing corruption. What they are doing is pursuing PDP who they perceived are the opposition to the government. To be candid all those who stole money are still living in the government right now and they are been protected by this administration.
He said the government is trying to stop cases against his officials which is quite wrong and an indication that the fight against corruption is one sided. “All those funds that where given was actually meant for certain purposes for which they were disbursed directly. This fund were not got from the the federal government’s purse, they were funds sourced from personal donations. I know that we have confidence in the judiciary because they know what is happening in Nigeria, they see how the judiciary is almost bastardised by this present administration which has denied them their due respect or accord.”, he said
