Goje, others get bail in graft suit

Doma, co-accused know fate todayFORMER governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje, and four others who are facing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on corruption, were yesterday granted bail in the sum of N200 million each. They are, however, to remain in prison custody until they are able to meet the bail conditions.Goje, alongside four others, Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Tumu, former Gombe State Government House food supplier; Alhaji Aliyu Ubadone El-Nafaty, erstwhile Executive Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, Gombe; S. M. Dokoro; proprietor of S. M. Dokoro and M. Dokoro Gombe, are to meet stringent bail conditions which include producing two sureties each in like sum of N200 million.According to Judge Babatunde Quadri of a Federal High Court, Gombe, the sureties are also to have property in the metropolis of Gombe, which must be supported with a letter from the Ministry of Land and free from any encumbrance.The court also ruled that the sureties, who must also deposit their international passports with the Court Registrar, must be able to produce three years tax clearance certificate.According to spokesman of the EFCC, Femi Babafemi, Goje and others are standing trial over alleged money laundering and diversion of public funds.Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has ordered former Governor of the state, Aliyu Akwe-Doma and eight others arraigned by the EFCC over alleged money laundering remanded in the Commission's custody till today when their bail application and counter-application from the EFCC will be determined.The order to remand them in EFCC custody was given by Judge Marcel Awokulehin following the bail applications filed by counsel to all the accused and the counter-application filed by the lead Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposing the bail bid.
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