Tobias Sylvester
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, who has been detained in prison over his inability to produce his suretyship, Abdulrasheed Maina, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team.
KanyiDaily recalls that Senator Ndume had been remanded in Kuje prison since Monday, November 23, 2020, over his failure to produce his surety, Maina, who is believed to have jumped bail.
Ndume, through his lawyer, Marcel Oru, had on Tuesday filed an appeal against the remand order at the Court of Appeal, along with an application for the bail of the defendant filed before Justice Okon Abang.
During the ruling on Friday, Justice Abang said he will grant the senator bail based on his record of good behaviour before the court, notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed.
The judge granted bail to the senator pending the hearing and determination of Ndume’s appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge Monday’s order sending him to jail for his inability to produce the fleeing Maina.
He ordered the senator to produce one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and present evidence of ownership of property anywhere in Abuja.
According to the judge, the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means to indicate his readiness to forfeit the bail guaranty should the senator jump bail.
The judge ordered the senator to deposit his passport with the Chief Registrar of the court. He also ordered the lawmaker to file an undertaking that he would compile records of appeal and transmit it to the Court of Appeal within 10 days, a way the court wants him to demonstrate his readiness to prosecute his appeal.
KanyiDaily recalls that Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) had in strong terms condemned the arrest and detention of Senator Ali Ndume.
