A former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Gabriel Ehindero, and a former Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget during his tenure, John Obaniyi, were on Friday ordered remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja for alleged misappropriation of N588 million.
The order, given by an Abuja High Court, followed the dismissal of the order sought by Ehindero that he should not be prosecuted for the alleged crime.
The trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, who granted the accused bail for N10 million, ordered that they should be remanded in Kuje Prison until they have fulfilled the bail conditions.
Their arraignment followed the dismissal of an application they filed asking the court to strike out the amended six-count charge preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for want of jurisdiction.
They told Oniynagi that the amended charges was an abuse of court process and that the proof of evidence does not link them to the alleged offences.
But Oniynagi ruled otherwise.
He said there is sufficient evidence and prima facie to warrant granting the prosecution leave to try Ehindero and Obaniyi and that the court had jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He thus ordered that the accused be arraigned based on the amended charges.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ehindero’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Obaniyi’s counsel pleaded with the court to grant them bail on self recognition.
The prosecution did not oppose the application for bail but demanded for stiff bail conditions.
Justice Oniyangi granted the accused bail for N10 million each and a surety who must swear to an affidavit of means.
He then directed that Ehindero and Obaniyi be remanded in Kuje Prison until November 12, 2012 if they do not fulfil the bail conditions.