Court Grants Former PDP Chairman, Son, N300m Bail

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Mohammed Bello, and his son, Abba, bail to the tune of N300 million and two sureties each.In a ruling, the judge insisted that based on the health condition of the applicants and since they have made a pledge to be available for trial, the court could not deny them bail.Specifically, information has it that Abba is suffering from asthma and arthritis.Haliru on his part is said to be undergoing treatment for injuries related to the surgery he had in his spinal area in a United Kingdom (UK) hospital.However, Abba will remain in Kuje prison, Abuja, while Haliru is to be restricted to the hospital where he is being treated, as earlier ordered by the court, pending fulfilment of the bail conditions.It would be recalled that the former PDP boss, his son, alongside their company, Bam Projects and Properties Limited, were docked on a four-count charge of money laundering on Tuesday.They were alleged to have collected N300 million from the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, on March 17, 2015 for political campaign under the pretext that it was meant for a housing project, named “Safe Houses”.But Justice Mohammed held that there was nothing before the court to show that the offences with which the defendants were charged before the court attracts capital punishment, that they could jump bail or that they would interfere with witnesses.The court declared that, “It is only where there are strong and weighty reasons suggesting that the accused will not come back to take his trial or there is the likelihood of his committing more offences, if he is granted bail that bail can be denied.“The complainant has not shown that the applicants’ claim of ill-health is false. Furthermore, the medical reports tendered support the applicants’ claim. The complainant’s contention that the applicants have not shown that the prison authorities cannot take care of their ill-heath cannot, in my view, be a ground to refuse the applicants bail.“This is because if the applicants are being treated in a hospital or clinic that can adequately take care of their ailment, then it will be most unfair to refuse their bail applications.“Furthermore, the applicants have deposed to affidavits that they will not jump bail, that they will provide credible sureties and that they will always attend court to take their trial.“I am further satisfied that the first and second applicants (Abba and Haliru) are entitled to bail in view of the circumstance of this case. I, therefore, admit the first and third defendants to bail pending the trial of this case.”The matter has been adjourned till February 16, 2016.