Appeal court acquits ex-gov Ngilari who ‘escaped’ from jail

The appeal court in Yola has discharged and acquitted Bala Ngilari, former governor of the state, of procurement fraud charges.

In March,  the state high court convicted the former governor of fraud . The court held that he violated procurement law in the purchase of 25 units of vehicles worth N167 million. He was then sentenced to five years imprisonment, but with an option of choosing any prison he wanted to be kept in.

He was subsequently granted bail on health grounds. But on Thursday, the appeal court set aside the judgment of the lower court convicting him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the charges against him.

After his conviction, he spent only a few weeks in jail and was released even before the prison authorities could get the court order for his bail.

Ngilari was Adamawa governor from October 2014 to May 2015.