Former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Bello Haliru and his son, Abba Bello received much needed reprieve from their money laundering charges after a Federal High Court in Abuja, granted them bail on Thursday.
However, they will remain in government detention pending when they meet their bail conditions. While the ex-PDP chairman is receiving treatment at Abuja hospital under police surveillance, his son is held up in Kuje prison, Abuja.
However, ruling on the bail applications, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the accused persons to produce the sum of N300 million bail bonds and two sureties each in like sum.
While one of the sureties for Bello Haliru must be a civil servant of not less than the rank of director, one of the sureties for Bello Abba Mohammed must be a civil servant of not less than the rank of grade level 12.
As part of the eight conditions listed for the bail, Justice Mohammed ruled that the sureties must have landed properties in Abuja valued at not less than the sum of N300 million; and that the title deeds of the properties must be submitted to the court registrar.
The judge also ordered the sureties and accused persons to depose to affidavits of means to be filed with the court, while mandating the accused persons to deposit their international passports with the court registrar.
He further ruled that an officer of the court must verify the documents and properties for the bail conditions.
Justice Mohammed, however, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase to continue the surveillance on Bello Haliru at the Abuja Clinics where he is receiving treatment after a spinal injury surgery in the UK pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
The judge also ordered the remand of his son, Bello Abba to Kuje Prison custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
The accused persons were on Tuesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on four-count charges of receiving the sum of N300 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki on March 17, 2015. Also charged with them is their company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd.
The case has been adjourned to February 16 for hearing.
By Olisemeka Obeche