A former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu was yesterday re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Minna on charges of money laundering.
The ex-governor was arraigned alongside a former Commissioner for Environment, Umar Nasko, on an eight-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
The offences are contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15(3) of same Act.
The duo were accused of laundering ecological funds of over N1.940bn released by the Federal Government to the state in 2014.
They were re-arraigned after their case was re-assigned to Justice Aminu Aliyu following the transfer of a former judge presiding over the matter.
When the charges were read to the defendants yesterday, they both pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the first defendant, Olajide Ayodele, said he had filed an application for bail and prayed the court to grant same.
Counsel to the second defendant, Daniel Omako, however, prayed the court to exercise its discretion by granting his client bail.
The prosecution counsel, Boniface Bassey, said he would leave the issue of bail to the discretion of the court.
In his ruling, Justice Aliyu restored the bail previously granted by Justice Yellim Bogoro and adjourned the matter to July 4 for hearing.
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