A Katsina High Court yesterday granted bail to former Katsina State governor Ibrahim shema alongside three others namely Rufai Safana, Sani Makana and Lawal Dankaba after they had pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charges raised against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.
At the resumed sitting, the court had earlier ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case before the charges were read to the accused and plea taken.
EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa upon the ruling on jurisdiction had asked the accused to be remanded in prison as the case had commenced. However, Shema’s councel JB Daudu called on the court to disregard the prayers of the accused counsel.
In his ruling, Justice Maikata Bako granted bail to all the accused in the sun of N1 billion and one surety to each of the accused before adjourning to March 28 this year for hearing.
It could be recalled the EFCC had dragged Shema alongside the trio alleged financial misdeed of about N11 billion local government funds.