The Nigeria Police Force brought a former Managing Director of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Plc, Aliyu Abdulhameed, to a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for legal action.
The ex-NIRSAL MD, who was dismissed from his position by former President Muhammadu Buhari on December 1, 2022, faced charges related to conspiracy and document forgery alongside Babangida Abdullahi.
In the case identified as FHC)ABJ/CR/555/2023, the police accused the defendants, along with others who are currently on the run, of planning to commit forgery around October 23, 2023.
The defendants, as well as others who are currently at large, were also accused of conspiring to commit an offense.
The alleged offenses were in violation of Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(2){c} of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.
The defendants denied the charges against them.
The prosecuting counsel, Celestine Odo, then requested the court to detain the defendants at the Kuje Custodial Centre.
Odo also informed the court that he had listed five witnesses for the prosecution.
He added that the prosecution planned to call no more than three witnesses to support their case against the defendants and mentioned that the witnesses would submit documentary evidence.
Responding to Odo’s statement, the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, mentioned that he would accept documentary evidence as a collection.
He stated, “You will organize the documentary evidence per witness and number the pages from the beginning to the end.
“I will accept the documentary evidence as a set and will not consider objections about admissibility.
“After the trial, the parties can present arguments to the court regarding admissibility and probative value.”
The defendants' legal representative, Akin Olujimi (SAN), while requesting bail for his clients, informed the court that he had submitted an application on February 24.
He added that the prosecution had not submitted any counter-affidavit in opposition.
When questioned, Odo confirmed that the defense counsel had served them with the application and stated that the prosecution did not oppose the request.
Subsequently, the judge granted the defendants bail on the conditions of the administrative bail.
He directed the prosecution to provide the details of their bail to the court registry.
Ekwo, however, scheduled the trial for May 20, 21, 22, and 23.
