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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, granted cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, bail in the sum of N500 million each and two sureties in the like sum.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who admitted them to bail ruled that the sureties must be owners of properties in either Asokoro or Maitama districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
In addition, Justice Dimgba held that the sureties must show evidence of payment of their income tax.
The court, thereafter, ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
He further granted accelerated hearing of the case which has been adjourned to June 28, 2016, and July 4 and 5, 2016.
The defendants were, finally, docked on Tuesday before the court after spending 80 days in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the charges filed before the court by EFCC, the defendants were arraigned on a seven-count charges bordering on alleged payment of $40 million into their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba following which, their counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) moved an application asking the court to admit Roberts to bail on liberal terms, since the alleged offences are bailable.
