The Presiding Judge of FCT High Court on Kwali Division, Justice Simon Venchek Gaba, has granted a bail application for Mr. Babagana Abba Dalori, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galaxy Transport and Construction Limited.

Dalori was accused of alleged fraud of running a Ponzi scheme in the North-East of geopolitical zone of the country

He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was first detained by the anti-graft agency, before taken to Kuje Maximum Prison.

Justice Gaba, after listening to the arguments of both the Prosecuting Counsel and lawyer to the EFCC, Maryam Ahmed, and Defense Counsel, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), at the court’s premises, directed that the accused be granted bail to the tune of N5 million.

While delivering the verdict, the Judge ordered that the accused must also produce two sureties in like some, who must also be residents within the court’s jurisdiction.

He said one of the sureties must be resident in his own personal and fully-furnished apartment.

Justice Gaba, who also mandated that the international passport of the defendant be seized, however requested that the accused can apply for it if he needs to seek medical treatment abroad.

The case was thereafter adjourned to November 4 and 5, 2019, for hearing.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had directed EFCC to set free the businessman or arraign him in court, after his detention for more than 30 days without trial.

The order issued by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on May 30, 2019 prompted the anti-corruption agency to arraign him before the FCT High Court in Kwalli.

Dalori who had been in the custody of the EFCC since March 29, 2019, had approached the Federal High Court with a fundamental human right suit challenging his detention without trial by EFCC for over two months.

In the suit, filed on his behalf by Barrister N. A. Dammo, the plaintiff had prayed the court to order EFCC to release him or prefer charges against him if he had committed any offence known to law.

The enroll order of the court signed by the court registrar, Omoju Ojo James, read in part: “The respondent (EFCC) is hereby ordered to release the applicant (Dalori) forthwith or grant him administrative bail where there is prima facie evidence that the applicant has committed an offence pending the outcome of the investigation. That where the investigation has been concluded and there is evidence of criminal infraction, the respondent (EFCC) shall prefer a charge against the applicant before the court of competent jurisdiction which shall determine the bail of the applicant.” (PRNigeria)

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