The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja, has revoked the bail earlier granted Geoffrey Akindele, one of the defendants in the trial of a former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF) Ahmed Idris for an alleged N109.5million fraud.
The defendant, Geoffrey Akindele’s bail was revoked by Justice Yusuf Halilu following his non-appearance in court for continuation of trial within trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Akindele was absent in court as of the time the case was called, though Idris and Usman were in court.
Despite pleas by counsel for Akindele, S.E. Adino that his client was on the way to court, submitting that he has always been in court to face trial, Justice Halilu held that the bail granted the 2nd defendant be revoked.
The judge held that after listening to what Adino said, when a court grants a defendant bail, such person must reciprocate the gesture by attending court for trial.
According to him, Akindele had clearly not shown good character and conduct by his refusal to attend court, adding that the second defendant had abused the terms of his bail.
Justice Halilu subsequently revoked his bail and ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police and the EFCC to arrest Akindele and produce him in court at the next adjourned date.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, had informed the court that the prosecution received a letter from counsel for Idris and did not receive any from the counsel for Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to February 1, 2024 for definite hearing.
Akindele, who is the 2nd defendant in the suit and Idris are standing trial alongside Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited, on a 14-count charge bordering on diversion of public fund to the tune of N109.5 billion.
They were brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government.
Idris, among others, was alleged to have between February and December, 2021, while being a public servant by virtue of his position as Accountant-General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, the second defendant, a gratification of the aggregate sum of N15, 136, 221, 921.46, which was converted to dollars equivalent by Akindele.
Akindele, who was Technical Assistant to the Accountant-General of the Federation, and Idris were accused of committing criminal breach of trust while being entrusted with certain property, to wit N84,390,000,000 between February and November, 2021 by dishonestly receiving the said amount from the Federal Government through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
