Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani was on Monday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a two counts charge of fraud and bribe taking.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million.
Following the application for bail moved by Sani’s counsel, A Ibrahim, the lead counsel to the EFCC, Abbah Muhammed, opposed the application.
However,Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed EFCC’s opposition to Sani’s bail application.
The judge ordered Sen. Sani to produce a responsible citizen with a landed asset worth the N10 million bail as surety.
READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Shehu Sani For Alleged Bribery, Fraud
He also ordered the defendant to deposit his passport with the court’s registry with a directive that he must not travel out of the country without express permission of the court.
Justice Ekwo also directed the court’s registry to verify the assets and title documents to be tendered as a guarantee by the surety.
In addition, the judge ordered the court’s registry to notify in writing the Nigeria Immigration Services that the defendant’s passport was in its custody, while adjourning trial till February 24, 25 and 26.
According to EFCC’s charges, Sani allegedly collected $15,000 from a businessman, Sani Dauda under false pretence on November 20, 2019, promising to give the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, in order to influence some pending cases in court.
He also allegedly collected $10,000 from Mr. Dauda to bribe the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.