P&ID: N10m bail for ex-petroleum ministry director

Abiodun OBA |

A former Director, Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga, who faces criminal charges connected with the controversial P&ID $9.6bn judgment was on Wednesday granted 10 Million bail.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja under Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had on September 20, 2019, ordered her remand in Suleja prison in Niger State after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the eight counts preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judge subsequently fixed Wednesday for the hearing of her bail application.

Ruling on her bail application moved by her lawyer Ola Olanipekun (SAN), the judge said on Wednesday he had the discretion to grant bail to the defendant.

He then granted her bail in the sum of N10m which must be guaranteed by two sureties in like sum. The prosecution had opposed the bail application.

Justice Adeniyi, however, ruled that the prosecution failed to convince him not to grant the bail. He directed that the sureties to be produced by the defendant must include public servants not below directorate level and must be resident in Abuja.

The sureties are to depose to an affidavit of means. He directed that the defendant must not travel outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.