The defense counsel, Mustapha Idris, prayed the court to grant Wada-Saleh bail pursuant to section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution.
By Jeffrey Agbo
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano has remanded former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Idris Wada-Saleh, in the custody of the Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission (PCACC) over alleged N1billion fraud.
Wada-Saleh, who was a state official during the administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, is charged with giving false information and cheating.
Following his arraignment on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir ordered his remand for 12 days, pending ruling on his bail application.
The prosecution counsel, Salisu Tahir, told the court that the defendant was arrested on July 3 at about 2:30 p.m.
He alleged that the defendant released N1 billion to Arafat Construction Company, No Stone Construction Company and Multi Resources to rehabilitate 30 roads in the metropolis. But the jobs were not done.
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Mr Tahir filed an ex parte pursuant to the provisions of Section 295(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law(ACJL)2019 urging the court to remand the defendant at PCACC custody for 14 days to enable them complete investigation.
“The defendant has a case to answer in the N1 billion belonging to the Kano State government.
“The ex parte application is supported by seven paragraph deposed by one Insp Sa’id Ilu, attached with six voucher exhibits,” he said.
Tahir urged the court to grant the application to enable the agency file a proper charge against the defendant in the interest of justice.
Wada-Saleh pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offence contravened the provisions of Section 26 of PCACC 2010 as amended and Section 322 of the Penal Code.
The defense counsel, Mustapha Idris, prayed the court to grant Wada-Saleh bail pursuant to section 35(6) and 36(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The defendant is presumed innocent and the offence is bailable pursuant to Section 168 and 172 of ACJL Kano State 2019 and order 5 rule 1 and 3 of ACJL rules 2023,” he said.
The magistrate adjourned until July 14.
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