Former head of service of the federation (HoS), Steve Oronsaye, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged involvement in N1.2 billion graft while in office as the head of the civil service.
He was, however, given a temporary freedom till July 21, 2015 when his bail application will be heard.
In the charges against him and two other persons, Osarenkhoe Afe and Frederick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Oronsaye and the other accused persons were said to have allegedly siphoned at least N1.2 billion from the federal treasury during his tenure as head of the civil service.
Oronsaye and his co-accused persons pleaded not guilty to the 24-count charge bordering on money laundering and corruption slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Yusuf urged the court to set a date to commence trial and that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
Yusuf told the court that the prosecution intends to call no fewer than 18 witnesses in the matter, along with the proof of evidence before the court.
Lawyer to Oronsaye, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged Justice Gabriel Kolawole to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
Lawyer to the other accused persons, Oluwole Aladedoye, also aligned with the submissions of Agabi.
Responding, the EFCC’s lawyer Aliyu Yusuf opposed the application for bail, saying that he was served with the application in the court yesterday morning and that he needs time, under the law to respond.
In his ruling, Justice Kolawole ordered that the accused persons should be released to their lawyers, who must write an undertaking to produce them in court on July 21, 2015, when their bail application will be argued.
The judge further held that, “the accused persons have been on administrative bail of the anti-graft agency and if they have not jumped bail, I agree with the submissions of the lawyer to the second accused persons that remanding the accused persons in prison will be punitive.
“The accused persons shall be released on the strength of an undertaking of counsel which shall be filed within 24 hours.”
“I cannot blame the defence lawyer for filing their bail application this morning, just as I cannot also blame the prosecution for asking for time to respond.
“The issue is where do I remand the accused persons? The prosecution has not told the court that the accused persons jumped bail while on EFCC’s administrative bail. The court cannot grant a request to suit the ego of any person by doing certain things that have alternative options.
“My duty is to strike a balance pending when the application for bail is heard. In view of the remarks I made about the personality of the 1st accused person, I do not see how he will pose any risk if he is released.
“If the complainant has the power to admit the accused persons to administrative bail, the court is entitled by section 6(6) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to provide a judicial reprieve.
“I decline the oral application for bail, but request that a formal application be filed to provide the court with materials to determine the application for bail.
“The accused persons shall be released on the strength of an undertaking of counsel which shall be filed within 24 hours.”
The anti-graft agency had alleged that one of the accomplices in the alleged crime, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, is now at large, and they all connived to commit procurement fraud in the biometric enrolment job purportedly awarded to Innovative Solutions Limited without following due process.
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