Ex-NAF chief's surety withdraws as N22.8bn fraud case continues

dimeji akinloye

October 6, 2017 7:58 AM

Okeke told the court that he has urgent need for his landed documents, which was required pointing that he had applied for it since April.

The embattled former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal

Okeke was said to have withdrawn his suretyship for Amosu on Thursday, October 5.

He appeared before Justice Mohammed Idris at the Federal High Court in Lagos, where Amosu is being tried, seeking to retrieve the title documents of his landed property.

He had deposited the documents in the court's custody to secure bail for Amosu.

Okeke told the judge that he has urgent need for the documents, pointing that he had applied for it since April.

"I submitted a letter five months ago; I have been trying to withdraw the documents since April. I want to use it for family reasons," he told Justice Idris.

The Judge assured him that the documents would be released to him on Thursday.

"You can withdraw; as soon as the court finishes the business for today, your documents will be released to you," Justice Idris said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Amosu alongside 10 others on June 29, 2016, over an N22.8 billion fraud.

The court granted him N500m bail with two sureties in like sum, and that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

ALSO READ: EFCC officer explains how Amosu, others moved N22.1B into private companies

The presiding judge, Justice Idris, had said that each of the sureties, is to swear to an affidavit of means, which must be verified by the prosecution.

Amosu and his co-defendants were consequently released on bail, the freedom which is now threatened with the withdrawal of Okeke's suretyship.

The judge has given Amosu seven days to find a replacement.

dimeji akinloye