Court Grants N5m Bail to Engr Dalori, Galaxy Transport Boss
The Presiding Judge of FCT High Court on Kwali Division, Justice Simon Venchek Gaba, has granted a bail application for Engr Babagana Abba Dalori, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galaxy Transport and Construction Limited.
Dalori was accused of alleged fraud of running a Ponzi scheme in the North-East of geopolitical of the country
He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was first detained by the anti-graft agency, before taken to Kuje Maximum Prison.
Justice Gaba, after listening to the arguments of both the Prosecuting Counsel and lawyer to the EFCC, Maryam Ahmed, and Defense Counsel, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), at the Court’s premises, directed that the accused be granted bail to the tune of N5 million.
While delivering the verdict, the Judge ordered that the accused must also produce two sureties in like some, who must also be residents within the Court’s jurisdiction.
He said one of the sureties must be resident in his own personal and fully-furnished apartment.
Justice Gaba, who also mandated that the international passport of the defendant be seized, however requested that the accused can apply for it if he needs to seek medical treatment abroad.
The case was thereafter adjourned to November 4 and 5, 2019, for hearing.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had directed EFCC to set free the businessman or arraign him in court, after his detention for more than 30 days without trial.
The order issued by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on May 30, 2019 prompted the anti-corruption agency to arraign him before the FCT High Court in Kwalli.
Dalori who had been in the custody of the EFCC since March 29, 2019, had approached the Federal High Court with a fundamental human right suit challenging his detention without trial by EFCC for over two months.
In the suit, filed on his behalf by Barrister N. A. Dammo, the plaintiff had prayed the court to order EFCC to release him or prefer charges against him if he had committed any offence known to law.
The enroll order of the court signed by the court registrar, Omoju Ojo James, read in part: “The respondent (EFCC) is hereby ordered to release the applicant (Dalori) forthwith or grant him administrative bail where there is prima facie evidence that the applicant has committed an offence pending the outcome of the investigation. That where the investigation has been concluded and there is evidence of criminal infraction, the respondent (EFCC) shall prefer a charge against the applicant before the court of competent jurisdiction which shall determine the bail of the applicant.”
By PRNigeria
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UPDATED: EFCC Press Release
Court Admits Dalori to N5m Bail
The trial of Babagana Abba Dalori, Director/CEO, Galaxy Transport and Construction Company continued on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 before Justice Venchak S. Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) High Court, sitting in Kwali, Abuja, with the judge granting him N5million bail (Five Million Naira).
Dalori is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his company Galaxy Transport and Construction Company on a one-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only from one Abubakar Hajara. He was first arraigned on June 20, 2019.
The one-count charge reads: “That you, Babagana Abba Dalori and Galaxy Transportation and Construction Services Limited, sometime in 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) from one Abubakar Hajara under the false pretence that the money would be invested in the business of buying and selling of special trip(s) of excavated sand, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At today’s proceeding, the defence counsel, Joe-Kyari Gadazama SAN, informed the court of a pending application for bail and pleaded that the defendant be granted bail on liberal terms.
“My lord, the accused has no previous court case, neither criminal charges known to me and to the court. He also has a wife. Granting him bail will allow him access to his family, lawyers and witnesses, and also prepare him for his defence.
“I am assuring you my lord, whenever the court needs him, he will appear before the court. There is no any reason that will make the defendant jump bail my lord,” Gadazama said.
The prosecution counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed objected to the bail application, urging the court to deny the applicant bail in the interest of justice.
“We have filed a 14 page counter-affidavit, and investigation is ongoing. The said counter is dated 1st July, 2019 and filed 2nd July, 2019. Attached to the counter is a written address adopted, which urges this honourable court to refuse the applicant’s application in the interest of justice,” Ahmed said.
Justice Gaba, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the tune of N5million (Five Million Naira) and two sureties in like sum, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. Also one of the sureties must be resident in the accused home.
The defendant is also to submit his international passport with the court registrar.
He adjourned the case to November 4 and 5, 2019 for continuation of trial.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
