LAGOS OCTOBER 21ST (URHOBOTODAY)-An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi on Thursday ordered that the former board chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngozi Olejeme, be remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s ( EFCC) custody, until Friday.

The judge, Justice Maryam Hassan gave the order after listening to both counsel submissions on the defendant’s bail application.

She directed that the defendant should be in the EFCC’s custody pending the ruling on the application for bail on Friday.

Olejeme is standing trial over alleged case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of o?ce, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

The offence it was alleged she committed between 2012 and 2015, when she was the board chairman of the NSITF.

The none-count charge bordering on mismanagement, giving false statement, taking kickback from contracts and diversion of NSITF funds into personal accounts and companies she had interest in, formed the basis for the defendant’s arraignment.

One of the charge alleged that the funds were diverted through the award of suspicious contracts to proxy companies.

The offence according to prosecution contravened the provisions of sections 8,19 (1) (b) (1), punishable under the Corrupt Practice & other Related Offence Act 2000 and Section 17, (1) (2), 39 of EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her.

With the defendant pleading not guilty, the prosecution counsel, Steve Odiase prayed for a date for hearing to enable prosecution to prove her case against the defendant.

The defendant counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN therefore informed the court of the bail application dated and filed on Oct.18 before it.

Erokoro submitted that the application was supported by a 20-paragraphs affidavit attached with six Exhibits.

He also informed the court that his client was not a flight risk, as she voluntarily returned to Nigeria when she heard that the prosecution wanted to question her.

Erokoro said the defendant’s recent medical report from a medical facility stated that she required close medical monitoring as her medical status can lead to a medical emergency.

Odiase, on his part responded that he was not opposing the bail application, but however, opposed to the granting of bail on self-recognisance as submitted by the defence counsel.

He said that there was no consideration for bail on self-recognisance in Section 165 (1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act ( ACJA),2015.

He urged the court to grant the defendant bail with reasonable surety.

The court therefore adjourned until Friday to rule on the bail application.

The Guardian