After 6 yrs on the run, Olojeme facing multi-billion corruption charge convinces court she’s no flight risk

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 EFCC custody, until Friday.

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

Olejeme, whom the EFCC declared wanted  in 2015,  is standing trial over alleged case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, 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 nine-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 further stated that his client had been reporting to the Commission’s office as she was questioned and released on bail in 2017.

The counsel equally urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance or in the alternative, in the most liberal terms.

He said the bail application was predicated on medical grounds as the defendant has been diabetic and hypertensive for 30 years.

In addition, the counsel said that the defendant has had four major surgeries in the U.S and South Africa.

He further stated that the defendant four months ago suffered a heart failure and got infected with Covid-19 virus in Sept.

He submitted in addition that the defendant had been scheduled for another follow -up surgery for Nov. in South Africa.

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.