Hope Aroke and Tafida Ibrahim http://www.channelstv.com
Aroke, based in Malaysia, was detained by officials of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with his alleged accomplice, Tafida Ibrahim, on January 21. Both pleaded not guilty.
The latter’s bail application was granted for 10 million naira (US$64,000) and one surety while Hope was remanded in EFCC custody because he did not have a legal representative.
When the court resumed hearing the case, the counsel to the accused, Barrister Kingsley Izima, tendered a bail application for his client. An objection was however raised by the lead prosecutor, Hauwa Abubakar, who notified the court that the accused is a highly revered fraudster.
According to the prosecutor, investigations carried out by the EFCC revealed that the accused has perfected plans to flee the country as soon as the court grants his bail application.
She added the accused only rented the single room apartment for three weeks, which she said is where he carried out his illegal operations that culminated in the arrest.
After hearing arguments from both legal counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned the case to Friday when a ruling is expected to be given on the bail application made by the lawyer to the defendant.