•Ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai
The Kaduna State High Court has ordered the remand of Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in a correctional facility as the court adjourned his bail application hearing to Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Sa’idu, who also served as Commissioner for Finance, is facing a 10-count charge before the Kaduna State High Court II, including allegations of money laundering, embezzlement, and stealing, reports The Nation.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has also filed similar charges against him at another State High Court.
During today’s’s proceedings before Justice Isa Aliyu, the charges were read to Sa’idu, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The charges among others alleged that, the former Commissioner sold $45million in hard currency belonging to the Kaduna State Government—equivalent to ₦18,450,000,000—at the significantly undervalued rate of ₦410 per dollar, instead of the parallel market rate of ₦498 per dollar, with criminal intent, resulting in a ₦3,960,000,000 loss to the government.
According to the prosecution, the offence allegedly took place in 2022, when Sa’idu served as Commissioner of Finance in the El-Rufai’s administration.
The prosecution further alleged that the ₦3,960,000,000 discrepancy was laundered by Sa’idu, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Counsel to the Defendant, M I Abubakar notified the Court of a pending bail application, urging the Court to grant his client, Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu bail, as he had already spent 21 days in custody since his arrest on 2nd January, 2025.
While noting that, the bail application was filed before the Court on the 16th January, arguing that, granting Sa’idu bail will allow him adequate time and facilities to file his defence to the charges against him.
The Prosecution Counsel, Prof. Nasiru Aliyu however raised objection against the bail application, arguing that, the law provides that, the Prosecution be allowed seven days to file its response to the bail application.
After about 40 minutes recess, Justice Aliyu ruled that, the Prosecution be given adequate time provided by the law to file its defence to the bail application.
He however adjourned the case till January 23, 2025 for hearing of the bail application.
