Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered that former Adamawa State Governor, Mr Ahmadu Umaru (a.k.a Umaru Fintiri) be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail application.
Fintiri was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Specifically, he was alleged to have defrauded the state government to the tune of N970 million and another $4, 830 dollars while he held sway as the chief executive of the state.
The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
His counsel, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), applied for his bail on the grounds that the alleged offence was a bailable one.
Magaji premised his argument for bail on section 35 subsection 6 of the 1999 Constitution which presumes his client innocent until proven guilty.
He also relied on sections 158 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, in urging the court to admit the defendant to bail.
Magaji assured the court that Fintiri would not jump bail and that he would always be available to defend himself and urged the court to admit his client to bail.
In opposing the bail application, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Peters Aso referred the court to a document filed by the defence concerning a medical issue of the defendant.
Aso, in his argument he said it appeared that Fintiri had lied on oath, since the date which he said the doctor examined him was different from the date he said the doctor told him of his ailment.
The prosecuting counsel said although he was not a medical personal, he believed that one was examined before he was told of his health.
He also prayed the court to deny the bail application on the grounds that he was sure the defendant would come for trial if granted bail.
Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed ruling on the bail application for tomorrow.
Credit: Sun