N160m Contracts: Court To Rule On Ex-Gov. Ngilari’s Bail Application Today

Bala NgilariA former Adamawa State Governor, James Ngilari, has been arraigned before a State High Court sitting in Yola by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N160 million contracts.

The former governor as well as two of his subordinates, Ibrahim Welye, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sanda Lamurde, former finance Commissioner, were docked on Tuesday on 17-count charges ranging from criminal conspiracy to award contract for purchase of 25 cars at the cost of N160 million without following due process.

The accused persons allegedly awarded the contract without obtaining the certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the state procurement agency.

When the charges were read to them, the accused pleaded ‘not guilty’.

While calling for adjournment, counsel to the EFCC, Ahmad Muttaka, asked the court to remand the accused in prison, a position objected to by counsels to the accused, Akamode Abayomi and Leonard Nzadon.

The defence counsels, who requested that their clients be kept in EFCC custody, argued that their clients had already been granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency and had been reporting to the commission.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Nathan Musa, ruled that the accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody until Thursday September 22 (today) when he would rule on their bail applications.