‘N57m Fraud’: Court grants bail to dropped ICPC board nominee

A high court in the federal capital territory (FCT) on Thursday granted bail to Maimuna Aliyu, former executive director, Aso Savings and Loans Plc.

In August, Aliyu was nominated to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC).

Her appointment had elicited negative reactions following allegations of corruption levelled against her.

She was accused of abusing her office as executive director of Aso Savings and Loans Limited.

Subsequently, her nomination was withdrawn and she was charged to court on a three-count charge of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and criminal breach of trust.

On Thursday, Mairo Nasir, the presiding judge, granted her bail in the sum of N10 million following an application filed before the court by Joe-Kyari Gadzama, her lawyer.

Part of her bail conditions also includes bringing two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must swear an affidavit on their means of livelihood.

The court adjourned the matter till March 12 for the commencement of the hearing.

Maryam Sanda, Aliyu’s daughter is being tried for allegedly killing her husband.

The defendant has not been arraigned since the charges were filed because she is a co-defendant with her daughter, in a murder case before another court.

Akponimisingha Ekoi, the ICPC counsel, had earlier told the court that one of the charges of the fraud filed against the ex-director was punishable under section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

Ekoi said the other offences were punishable under section 25(1a)(b) of the ICPC Act 2000 and section 312 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 532 Laws of the Northern Nigeria 1990.