By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted Prof. Sani Malumfashi, Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), and his co-defendants, to N200 million bail each and two sureties in like sum.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on their bail application moved by their counsel, Okechukwu Edeze, SAN, held that the offence with which the defendants are charged were bailable.

Justice Omotosho observed that the defendants are being prosecuted on money laundering and not capital offence.

“It is based on this, that this court is inclined to grant the bail application,” he said.

The judge also considered the fact that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, did not oppose the application.

The judge, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum.

He said that each of the sureties shall be owner of property with minimum variation of N100 million within the Federal Capital Territory and shall sworn to affidavit of means.

He said the sureties shall show evidence of tax payment in the past three years and that the sureties and the defendants shall submit their recent passport photographs and certified true copies of their bank statements.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the defendants to submit their international passports, if available, to the registrar of the court and that the registrar shall verify all the documents and issue report accordingly.

The judge, who adjourned the matter until March 4 for commencement of trial, said the defendants shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

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 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.

Count one had alleged that Prof. Malumfashi, Mustapha and Garba between the months of 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 November 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.

After the six counts were read to them on Tuesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

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

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