Court remands Yuguda, others

An FCT High Court on Tuesday remanded former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and others over alleged fraud and diversion of public fund to the tune of N18bn.

Others remanded are former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, former Director of Finance in NSA's Office Shuaibu Salisu, former Gov. Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, and his son Sagir Attahiru.

Justice Peter Affen ordered the defendants be detained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending hearing in their bail application.

The court gave the order following the arraignment of Yuguda, Dasuki, Salisu, Bafarawa, his son and their company, Dalhatu Investment Ltd on a 22-count charge.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that after the defendants had taken their plea, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs informed the court that he had been served with the bail application by their lawyers.

He said he had filed counter-affidavit to the motion in which he gave reasons why the defendants should not be granted bail.

Jacobs requested the court to adjourn the case for the hearing of the bail application because he had a case he wanted to attend to before another judge.

NAN reports that the lawyers to the defendants did not oppose the application.

The judge adjourned the case till Dec. 16 at noon for hearing of the bail application.

EFCC also filed another charge against Dasuki, Salisu, former Executive Director of NNPC, Aminu Babakusa and his two companies, Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd.

NAN reports that the respondents were arraigned before Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf of FCT High Court, on alleged diversion of public fund to the tune of N13.5bn.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in the custody of EFCC till Dec. 18 when he would deliver ruling on their bail application.