PDP Chairman sent to prison for allegedly conniving with Babangida Aliyu to defraud Niger State
PDP CHAIRMAN SENT TO PRISON FOR ALLEGEDLY CONNIVING WITH BABANGIDA ALIYU TO DEFRAUD NIGER STATE The Chairman of the Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tanko Beji, has been remanded in prison by a Minna High Court.
Beji was arraigned by the Economic and Fianacial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly aiding former governor of the state, Babaginda Aliyu in fraudulent activities.
During the resumed trial on Monday, Beji pleaded not guilty.
Against this backdrop, Beji’s counsel, Olajide Ayodele prayed the court to release his client on self-recognition.
However, EFCC counsel, Gbolahan Latona had opposed the application on the grounds that the offence for which the PDP boss was charged was not bailable by virtue of section 341 subsection 2 of the criminal procedure code.
Latona, however, said the court could use its discretion to grant the accused person bail.
The trial judge, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki remanded Beji in in prison till Friday when he will rule on his application for bail.
Maiyaki also ruled that the court has jurisdiction to hear the suit brought against Aliyu, his former Chief of Staff, Umar Mohammed Nasko and Beji.
The judge gave the ruling on a preliminary objection raised by counsel to Nasko, Mamman Mike Usman, that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
“The basis for which the application was made did not exist.
“Most of the points upon which the arguments were predicated upon are false,” he said.
