Alleged fraud: Court grants Shehu Sani N10m bail
- trial fixed for Feb 24
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail at N10 million to a former Senator, Shehu Sani after he was arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who granted the bail application by Sani, said he must produce a surety, who will sign bond of the same amount and who must own a landed property worth N10 within Abuja.
Justice Ekwo ordered Sani to deposit his international passport and must only travel outside the country with the permission of the court.
The judge, who granted accelerated hearing in the case, adjourned till February 24, 25 and 26 for trial.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
According to the charge, Sani allegedly collected $15,000 from a businessman, Sani Dauda under false pretence on November 20, 2019, promising to give the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, in other to influence some pending cases in court.
He also allegedly collected $10,000 from Mr Dauda to bribe the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
A counts in the charge reads: “That you Shehu Sani on or about the 29th of November, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of USD 10,000.00 (Ten Thousand United States of America Dollars) cash from Alhaji Sani Dauda (ASD) under the false pretence that the money was meant to bribe the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lbrahim Magu to arrest and prosecute one Abubakar Musa, which representation you knew to be false, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.”
