Court Vacates Arrest Warrant Against Kwara Ex-Commissioner

-Admitted To N5m Bail With 2 Sureties In Like Sum

The bench warrant issued for the arrest of the former Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu, has been vacated by the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, the State capital.

It would be recalled that the arrest warrant was granted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the allegation that Banu, the second defendant, refused to appear before the court.

At the commencement of the hearing between the anti-graft agency and the State’s former Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed (first defendant) and his Commissioner, Judge, Evelyn Nmasinulo, granted the request sought by the lead counsel to Banu, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) on the ground that the defendant was present at the y hearing in court on Monday.

According to the proceedings, the defendants were charged with an 11-count charge bordering on financial impropriety while in office. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The second defendant counsel however sought bail for his client which was later granted at N5m and two sureties in the same conditions.

The counsel, however, pleaded for an adjournment to enable him to file some documents that would aid the proper defence of his client.

Justice Evelyn Nmasinulo later adjourned further sitting to June 25 and 26.

Addressing newsmen, the lead legal counsel to Banu, Barrister Oyewole said: “We vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of our client because it was wrongly issued and we secured adjournment to the 25 and 26 with N5M bail grant and two sureties in like sum.”

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) said the counsel to the defendant was in touch with the prosecution that Banu was out of the country and since he has attended the court, they have no objection to the vacation of the bench warrant issued by the court for the arrest of the defendant.