The other accused equally granted bail are six senior officials of the Ministry of Power.They are Samuel Ibiackpe; Abdullahi Aliyu; Simon Nanle; Lawrence Orekoya; Abdulsamad Jahun and Kayode Oyedeji, who were arraigned by EFCC on a 135-count charge.
They were charged with offences contrary to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.
While taking their plea, all the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and filed applications for bail through their lawyers.
The accused had earlier been charged on a sister case in June 2009 before an FCT High Court, Abuja, on a 167-count charge for alleged misuse of Rural Electrification Agency’s (REA) fund totaling N6.2 billion.
Justice Umar Garba granted the accused bail in the sum of N50 million each and a surety each in the like sum while ruling on their applications for bail.
The judge, however, said that the sureties must be civil servants on the grade level of a director and adjourned hearing in the case to March 24 and March 25.
NAN