The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to Senator Ali Ndume who has been in prison detention since Monday for failing to produce Abdulrasheed Maina believed to have jumped bail.
In a ruling, Justice Okon Abang said he chose to grant the senator bail based on his record of good behaviour before the court, notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed.
Ndume who stood as Maina’s surety has also filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge the order sending him to jail for his inability to produce Maina.
Maina, a former chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, has not been seen in court since September. An arrest warrant has been issued against him and his bail revoked.
Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges of money laundering involving N2billion.
Justice Abang ordered Ndume to produce one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and present evidence of ownership of property anywhere in Abuja.
According to the judge, the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means to indicate his readiness to forfeit the bail guaranty should the senator jump bail.
The judge also ordered the senator to deposit his passport with the chief registrar of the court.
He also ordered the lawmaker to file an undertaking that he would compile records of appeal and transmit it to the Court of Appeal within 10 days.
