The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Wednesday, admitted the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Malumfashi and his co-defendants, to N200 million bail each and two sureties in like sum.
Justice James Omotosho in a ruling on their bail application moved by their counsel, Okechukwu Edeze, SAN, held that the offence preferred against the defendants were bailable.
Mr Omotosho said the defendants are being prosecuted on money laundering and not capital offence.
“It is based on this, that this court is inclined to grant the bail application,” he said.
The judge also considered the fact that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, did not oppose the application.
The judge, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum.
He said that each of the sureties shall be owner of property with minimum variation of N100 million within the Federal Capital Territory and sworn to affidavit of means.
He said the sureties shall show evidence of tax payment in the past three years and the sureties and the defendants shall submit their recent passport photographs and certified true copies of their bank statements.
Mr Omotosho also ordered the defendants to submit their passports, if available, to the registrar of the court and that the registrar shall verify the documents and issue report accordingly.
The judge, who adjourned the matter until March 4 for commencement of trial, said the defendants shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Mr Malumfashi’s co-defendants are the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Ado Garba, a deputy director, Account Department of the state electoral body, listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants.
In the charge dated November 28, 2025 and filed December 1, 2025 by Mr Akponimisingha, the defendants were alleged to have siphoned N450 million, N310 million and N260 million between the months of November and December 2024.
Count one alleged that Messrs Malumfashi, Mustapha and Garba between November and December, 2024 in Kano State, conspired to take possession of the sum of N450 million cash through SLM Agro Global Farm Account Nos. 0018222634 and 0015932143 with Jaiz Bank on November 1, 2024.
The money was said to form part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.
The offence is contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) & 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.
After the six counts were read to them on Tuesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The defendants were initially billed for arraignment before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a sister court in 2025 but the case was struck out for ICPC’s failure to effect service of court documents on the defendants.
(NAN)