Suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris was re-arraigned on Tuesday.
Idris was re-arraigned on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109.5b.
He was re-arraigned with three others before a new judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Justice Yusuf Halilu.
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They are Godfrey Olusegun Akindele (a Technical Assistant to Idris); a director in the office of the AG-F, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and a firm linked with Idris – Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
Idris and the other defendants were earlier arraigned on July 22 before Justice Jadesola.
The case was later reassigned to Justice Halilu after the court’s vacation.
Meanwhile, they pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them on Tuesday, following the defendants’ lead lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN).
Uche hence applied that they should be allowed to continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted them by the former judge on July 28.
The counsel held that the defendants have dutifully complied with their bail conditions.
The prosecuting lawyer, luwaleke Atolagbe did not object to the request that the defendants be allowed to remain on the earlier bail.
Atolagbe said the prosecution would allow the court to exercise its discretion on the issue.
Justice Halilu, while ruling said that bail was a constitutional right of a defendant.
The judge added that having been previously granted bail by the court, he is favourably disposed to allowing the defendants to remain on the early bail granted them by the court.
He then ordered among others, that the defendants should submit their international passports to the court’s Registrar.
The case, however, was adjourned till November 23 for the commencement of trial.
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