Former President Jonathan’s Cousin, Roberts Azibaola, and Wife get 500m Bail

Former President Jonathan’s Cousin, Roberts Azibaola, and Wife get 500m Bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted the cousin to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Roberts Azibaola and his wife Stella, bail in the sum of N500m.

In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered the couple to provide two sureties who must be land property owners in Abuja, before adding that they should remain in prison until their bail conditions are met, Daily Post reports.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of an Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday granted the cousin to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Roberts Azibaola and his wife Stella, bail in the sum of N500m.

The Judge in his ruling ordered the couple to provide two sureties who must be land property owners in Abuja.

He held that the couple be held in prison until they meet their bail conditions.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Azibaola alongside his wife on a six count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering for allegedly diverting the sum of $40m

EFCC claimed that the couple used their company, Oneplus Holdings to divert the sum of $40m which they allegedly received from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki(rtd).

Justice Dimgba who had yesterday remanded Azibaola in Kuje prison pending the determination of his bail application, on Wednesday, said the accused person was entitled to bail because he had not been proved guilty.

Also, the couple had pleaded not guilty to charges when they were read to them.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned Azibaola alongside his wife on a seven-count charge for contract scam and fraud arising from a $40 million contract awarded by the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the couple used their company, Oneplus Holdings to divert the sum of $40m which they allegedly received from Dasuki.

Justice Dimgba who on Tuesday placed Stella on administrative bail while remanding Azibaola in Kuje prison pending the determination of his bail application, further opined that the accused person was entitled to bail because he had not been proven to be guilty of the charges.