The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Senator Shehu Sani over alleged bribery.
He is alleged to have obtained a total sum of $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda (owner of ASD Motors) with a promise to help him stave off a criminal investigation by the EFCC.
Justice I. E. Ekwo however granted bail to the defendant who represented Kaduna Central District in the 8th Senate after he pleaded not guilty to the two-count criminal charge against him.
Shehu Sani’s counsel, Abdul Ibrahim, had asked the court to grant bail to his client to allow him take care of his family, businesses and prepare adequately for trial, adding that the defendant would not interfere with the witnesses to be called in the case.
The prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, had opposed the application saying Sani would interfere with witnesses in the case.
After listening to the two sides, the judge granted bail to the former senator at N10m bail bond, a surety who has landed property worth the bail sum to be verified by the court’s registrar.
The judge ordered the defendant to submit his international passport to the court and adjourned the case till February 24 for commencement of trial.
One of the charges against the defendant reads: “That you Shehu Sani on or about the 29th of November, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of USD 10,000.00 (Ten Thousand United States of America Dollars) cash from Alhaji Sani Dauda (ASD) under the false pretence that the money was meant to bribe the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lbrahim Magu to arrest and prosecute one Abubakar Musa, which representation you knew to be false, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.”
