The Federal High Court, Kaduna has fixed October 13, 2021 for the commencement of trial of a former governor of Kaduna State, Muktar Ramalan Yero, a former Minister of State for Power Nuhu Somo Wya, a former Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Ishaq Hamsa and Abubakar Gaiya Haruna, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna state for alleged bribery and money laundering.
Specifically, they are being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in sharing of N700 million said to have been provided by a former Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
Their trial had been stalled following the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Zainab B. Abubakar, to another division of the Federal High Court.
Subsequently, the matter was reassigned to another judge, Justice M.G Umar.
At the resumption of the matter on Tuesday, the EFCC counsel, Nasiru Salele, had informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment of the suspects on an eight-count amended charge of money laundering.
He urged the court to ask the accused to take their pleas.
Thereafter, the charges were read to them and they all pleaded not guilty, prompting the EFCC lawyer to ask the judge to fix a date for their trial.
At that point, the defence counsel drew the attention of the judge to the previous bail granted the accused persons and prayed the court to allow the bail condition to subsist. This was not opposed by the prosecution counsel.
Justice Umar therefore adopted the bail granted the accused and adjourned till October 13 for commencement of their trial.