Former NBA chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, Yinka Farounbi other granted bail

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria -Former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Ikeja, branch, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, former Financial Secretary of the association, Mr. Aderinola Kappo and ex-Official of the NBA, Mr. Yinka Farounbi were today granted bail by a special offences court sitting in Ikeja.

They were each granted by justice Mojisola Dada in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. Delivering her ruling, the judge said the prosecution has failed to prove that the defendants, especially the 1st defendant, tampered with prosecution witnesses.

He said there was no proof that the defendants jumped administrative bail or that the 3rd defendant gave a fake address to the EFCC.

“The allegation that the third defendant jumped administrative bail was not proven, although the 1st and 3rd defendants said they were not around last Friday they were supposed to appear before the EFCC, but they presented themselves the next Monday for arraignment despite not being served by the EFCC. “

“There is no evidence that shows that the EFCC investigated the claims of the 3rd defendant that she was in an hospital in badagry on that Friday. The EFCC also failed to produce the 2nd defendant in court for arraignment despite being in EFCC custody up until then”, she said.

According to her, failure to appear last Friday should not be sufficient reason to deny them bail, adding that they they will however not be granted bail on self recognition. “

“The defendants are granted bail in the sum of 500,000 and 2 sureties in like sum, one of whom must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The defendants shall remain on temporary bail pending the perfection of their bail within two weeks, failure of which they will be remanded in prison. “

Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the matter to the 3rd,9th and 10th of July for commencement of trials.

The defendants are facing a 30-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).