By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered that Prof. Sani Malumfashi, Chairman, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), and two others be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre over an alleged N1 billion money laundering offence.

Justice James Omotosho made the order after Malumfashi and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge following their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Justice Omotosho held that the defendants shall be in the correctional facility pending the hearing and determination of their formal bail application.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 for the consideration of the defendants’ bail application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malumfashi’s co-defendants are the Secretary of KANSIEC, Mr Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Mr Ado Garba, a Deputy Director, Account Department of the state electoral body, listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants.

In the charge dated Nov. 28, 2025 and filed Dec. 1, 2025 by ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the defendants were alleged to have siphoned the sums of N450 million, N310 million and N260 million between the months of November and December 2024.

The ICPC alleged that Malumfashi, Mustapha and Garba between November and December 2024 in Kano, conspired to take possession of the sum of N450 million cash through SLM Agro Global Farm Account Nos. 0018222634 and 0015932143 with Jaiz Bank on Nov. 1, 2024.

The money was said to form part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

The offence is contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) & 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

When the case was called, Akponimisingha prayed the court for the charge to be read to the defendants to enable them take their plea and the defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, did not object.

After the six counts were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecuting lawyer then applied for a trial date to present their witnesses in court.

Responding, Magaji sought the indulgence of the court to move an oral application for bail on behalf of his clients.

According to the senior lawyer, they have been enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the prosecution and have always complied with the bail conditions.

He, however, said that if the bail was not granted, a short date should be given to file a formal bail request.

Justice Omotosho, therefore, held that the bail application must be formally filed since the court is a court of record and that the prosecution should be allowed to respond appropriately in the interest of fair hearing.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 28 for hearing of the bail application.

NAN reports that the defendants were to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a sister court in 2025 but the case was struck out over ICPC’s failure to effect service of court documents on the defendants. (NAN)

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