The 15th of August 2013 has been reserved by the Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Monday, for ruling in bail applications filed by a Lebanese national and eight Nigerians, charged for allegedly diverting bags of rice worth N550 million.
The Lebanese, Bassam Abood; Kelechi Madukanya, Amadi Richard, Enyi Christopher, Godwin Edet, Samuel Abeh, Chiwendu Ekete, John Abbah and Daniel Onuoha were arraigned by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), on August 7 for having conspired in the obtaining of 5,055 bags of rice valued at N550 million from Port Harcourt-based Cem Nigeria Limited, between February and March.
According to the charge, the accused were likely to serve up to three years in prison if found guilty of the allegation which they denied knowledge of, having contravened the Provision of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Frauds-Related Act.
Earlier, Mr David Aliko, counsel to Abood, Madukanya and Richard, who referred to the file charge against the accused as “frivolous and unsubstantiated” led other defendants’ counsel to urge the court to grant their clients bail.
They submitted that Cem Nigeria Limited, the nominal complainant could not link the applicants directly to the alleged missing goods.
Aliko and the other defendants’ counsel prayed the court to use its discretional powers to grant the accused mitigated bail term, adding that they are prepared to stand justice.
Counsels for other defendants, Clifford Eze, Vitalis Ero, Nwosu Nwosu and Maxwell Alaeto aligned themselves with Aliko’s affidavit in supporting their submissions.
However, Mr. Samuel Malu, counsel to the prosecution in his counter affidavit, prayed the court to discountenance the applications.
Mr. Samuel opposed to the bail application with the view that the applicants have the capacity to interfere with the pending investigation which is yet to be completed.
