Despite Earlier Failure To Appear, Court Frees Ex-Legislator Dabo On N40m Bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted bail to Mr Suleiman Dabo, the immediate-past member of Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Zaria Constituency, in the sum of N40 million with two sureties in the like sum.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, held that though the defendant failed to appear for his trial, he would admit him to bail in the interest of justice

Justice Omotosho then declared that the two sureties, who must sworn to affidavit of means, should be owners of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

He, alternatively, directed Dabo to provide a bank guarantee of N40 million as part of the bail terms.

The judge, who said that the bail would be on condition, threatened that if the former lawmaker failed to stand his trial, the court would not hesitate to withdraw the bail.

The matter was consequently adjourned until Feb. 21, Feb. 22 and Feb. 28 for commencement of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Omotosho had, on Jan. 15, ordered Dabo to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending ruling in his bail plea after he was arraigned by the police on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged fraud to the tune of N30 million.

Dabo was arraigned alongside his company, Ohman International Venture Ltd., in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/363/2021, as 1st and 2nd defendant, but pleaded not guilty.

In count two, Dabo and the company, sometime in October and November, 2017, were alleged to have defrauded Mrs Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa of the sum of N30 million through a GTBank Account No: 0172410075 with account name: Ohman International Venture Limited.

It alleged that the defendants had, on the pretence of selling a scrap vessel ship known as ADNAN 101, commited the act “when you presented yourself to Mrs Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa as the bonafide owner of the scrap ship.”

But the defendant, through his lawyer, filed a bail application, arguing that bail was a constitutional right.

Dabo, who said every offender is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court, said the offence with which he was charge with was a bailable one.

But the prosecution lawyer, Mathew Omosun, disagreed in a counter affidavit.

Omosun said that Dabo was admitted on administrative bail on Jan. 13, 2021 and the court granted him bail on the same terms.

The lawyer, however, argued that despite the order of the court that the defendant continued on administrative bail, he failed to attend his trial and that he had not shown readiness to face his trial.