Abuja: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin and
two other Rear-Admirals, Bala Mshelia (rtd) and Shehu Ahmadu (rtd) before Justice A. S Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy.
They were docked alongside Habour Bay International Limited, a company said to have conspired with them to commit the fraud.
The naval chiefs allegedly bought a house worth N600 million while still in office from the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract being captured in the budget.
It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of Vice Admiral Jubrin became the buyer.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Abdullah Faruk, asked the court for a date for commencement of trial.
However, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, representing the first and fourth accused, through an oral application made pursuant to Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, sought for the bail of his clients.
Maikyau told the court that, the defendants had been enjoying administrative bail granted them by the EFCC and had never breached any of its terms.
The counsel stated that, though he had earlier filed and served the prosecution with a formal bail application, he felt the need to move an oral application subject to the discretion of the court.
Counsel representing second and third accused relied on the arguments canvassed by the learned silk in seeking bail for their clients.
In response, Faruk told the court that, admitted being served the motion only in the morning and asked for time to enable him respond appropriately.
Justice Umar after listening to the submissions of counsel on both sides adjourned to tomorrow for hearing on the bail application.
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