Jonathan’s cousin remanded in prison

A federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered that Azibaola Roberts, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, be remanded in Kuje Prison.

‎Roberts has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since March when he was invited for questioning over  a $40m contract from Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA).

The anti-graft agency filed a seven-count charge against Robert and Stella, his wife, for allegedly using Oneplus Holding Limited, their company to get contracts from Dasuki.

Stella was taken into custody on Monday ahead of the trial.

On Tuesday, the court ruled that Roberts be remanded in custody till Wednesday when the suit he file for bail would be heard.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the judge, gave the ruling after listening to the submissions of the counsel to defence and that of the prosecution.

However, he granted Azibaola’s wife bail following a subsisting administrative bail.

Azibaola arrived at the court at 8:40am in a white Toyota bus escorted by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

He alighted from the bus holding the hand of his wife, and both sang a christian hymn, “In the hollow of his hands.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to charges of diversion of public funds when they were read to them.

Following their plea, Aliyu Ali, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to commence trial, and that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Chris Uche, the defence counsel, however, told the court that there was a pending application for bail, and he urged the court to grant his request,‎

He claimed that the accused person had been in the custody of the EFCC despite an order of a high court granting him bail-‎ which he said was flagrantly disobeyed by the commission.

The court, however, exercised its discretion remanding the accused person in prison.