By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State has vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of the state’s former commissioner for finance, Demola Banu.
Appeal for the arrest warrant was granted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the allegation that the second defendant (Banu) refused appearance.
At the commencement of the hearing between the anti-graft agency and the state’s former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed (first defendant) and his commissioner, the court one judge, Evelyn Nmasinulo granted the request sought by the lead counsel to Banu, Gboyega Oyewole Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN,) on the ground that the defendant was present at the hearing.
According to the proceedings, the defendants were charged with eleven counts bothering on financial impropriety while in office. All charges they pleaded not guilty.
The second defendant counsel however sought bail for his client who was later granted at N5m and two sureties in the same conditions.
He however pleaded for an adjournment to enable him file some documents that would aid the proper defence of his client.
Justice Evelyn Nmasinulo later adjourned further sitting to June 25 and 26.
Addressing newsmen, the lead counsel to Banu, Barrister Oyewole said: “we vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of our client because it was wrongly issued and we secured adjournment to the 25 and 26 with N5 million bail grant and two sureties in like sum.”
