Court orders EFCC to charge sureties of NSITF ex-chairman, Ngozi Olejeme

The FCT High Court, Apo, on Tuesday ordered the EFCC to charge two persons standing as sureties for Ms. Ngozi Olejeme, who was the chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015

The court asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to charge an Abuja-based lawyer, Monday Ubani; and a former Senator, Christopher Enai, to court or release them on bail on or before March, 28.

Justice Silvanus Oriji gave the order after listening to the submissions of the applicants in an ex-parte motion filed by their counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

The judge also granted bail to the applicants in the sum of N50m, with two reasonable sureties who must be civil servants on Grade Level 15.

The court had also ordered that the applicants deposit their passports.

Ozekhome, counsel to the applicants, in the motion ex parte prayed the court to order the EFCC to grant the applicants bail on self recognizance or liberal terms, pending arraignment.

He also prayed an order of the court to direct the EFCC to immediately release the applicants on bail pending formal arraignment before a court.

Ozekhome also prayed an order of the court directing the respondent whether by themselves, their agents, employee, operatives, detectives, or investigating officers to produce the applicants before a court on next adjourned date of the matter.

The Senior Advocate also stated that the applicants have been detained beyond the constitutionally allowed limit by the EFCC.

Ubani, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja, Lagos State branch; and Enai, ex-senator representing Bayelsa, were invited and detained by the EFCC operatives on March 19.

The applicants were detained for standing as sureties for Ngozi Olejeme, who once served as the chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015.

They are yet to be charge to court by the EFCC.

(NAN)