Justice O.A. Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 granted bail to Mrs. Grace Taiga, an alleged female accomplice in the multiple fraud, involving Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), but returned her to Suleja Prison in Niger State, pending the fulfillment of her bail conditions.
Taiga, who was arraigned on Monday, September 20, 2019 is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on eight-count amended charges that border on bribe taking and sundry crimes.
The 69-years-old Taiga, a lawyer and former director, Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was a key actor in the fraudulent Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) between the federal government and P&ID, and is also alleged to have used her position to administer undue favours to the company.
At today’s resumed sitting, defense counsel, Ola Olanipekun filed an application for bail and told the court that the “application was served and the prosecution has responded,” and that “the application is supported by an affidavit and seek to rely on the affidavit and the evidence.” He also filed a written address in support of the bail application and urged the court “to focus on exhibit tendered which are medical information of the defendant.”
The prosecution team of Abba Muhammad and Hadiza Afegbua on their part urged the court to refuse the bail application, especially “as there is no material to show that the ailment of the defendant cannot be cured in Nigeria.”
The prosecution further urged the court to refuse the bail application “for the purpose of the defendant to come to court for trial. The mere presentation of medical report is not sufficient,” it said.
Muhammad equally urged the court to discount the argument of the defence and to look at the evidence presented. “We urge the court to discount the argument of the defence. We also urge the court to strike out paragraph seven of the defendant affidavit,” Muhammad said.
Justice Adeniyi, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in the like sum. The judge stipulated that the two sureties must be Nigerian citizens and resident within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties shall also be persons employed in the public or civil service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any of its agencies and shall not be less in cadre than directors. And shall depose to affidavit of means of livelihood.
The court also stipulated that the defendant shall deposit her travel documents with the court pending the determination of her trial and ordered to obtain the requisite permit of the court at any time she considers it needful to travel outside the shores of Nigeria upon cogent and verifiable ground and upon obtaining the requisite consent of her sureties.
The court remanded her in Suleja Prison pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.
Court orders final forfeiture of hotel, houses belonging to Kwara civil servant
Meanwhile, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin has ordered the final forfeiture of a hotel and cars belonging to a Kwara civil servant to the federal government.
Also forfeited to the federal government are a three bedroom flat, two wings of two bedroom flats and a room and parlour self contain.
Giving his judgment on Tuesday September 24, 2019, Justice Oyinloye said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidences presented before the court were strong and reliable.
“The interim order of this honourable court was published in The Nation Newspaper, while the court’s processes were served alongside with the hearing notice to the defendant, but despite this, the defendant did not show up to explain why the said properties should not be forfeited to the federal government,” Justice Oyinloye said.
He further observed that “The evidence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not controverted or challenged by the defendant or any interested parties to the suit. This honourable court is of the opinion that the defendant was fully informed about the proceedings. In view of the forgoing, this honourable court hereby order that the said properties be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria,” the judge ruled.
Prosecuting counsel, Nnemeka Omewa in moving the motion dated September 8, 2019 urged Justice Oyinloye to grant the prayers of the EFCC, which in part was for an order of the court for the forfeiting to the federal government an unregistered Toyota Camry 2008 model, “found, traced and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.
And an order of the court for the forfeiting to the federal government a gold-coloured Porsche Cayanne vehicle, “found traced and recovered by the Commission from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.”
Justice Oyinloye relying on the motion and13 exhibits, attached equally ordered the cars recovered from the respondent, Abdul Ibrahim to be forfeited to the federal government.
