Alleged $1.2b Malabu Oil deal: Adoke, others granted bail
A Federal Capital Territory high court in Abuja, has granted bail to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and two other defendants in the charged on the offences bordering on the Malabu Oil scam.
Justice Kutugi had earlier on January 23, 2020, ordered the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after they pleaded not guilty to the 42 counts charge levelled against them by the commission.
In a separate bail applications, justice Idris Kutigi granted Adoke bail in the sum of 50 million Naira.
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While the second defendant, Abubakar Aliyu and 3rd defendant, Rasky Gbinigie were also granted N50 million and 10 million bail respectively.
Each defendant is expected to provide one surety each who must resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must own verifiable landed properties equivalent to the bail sum.
The defendants must also deposits there traveling documents with the court registry.
Justice Kutigi therefore adjourned to 26th if March for trial to commence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier filed 12 counts against Adoke, Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, as well as Malabu Oil and Gas Limited before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
Others listed on the charge sheet are Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.
The commission had also filed seven counts before a Federal High Court against Adoke and Abubakar.
The charges were filed against the former minister for the role he allegedly played in the controversial Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, otherwise known as Malabu oil scam.
