Eric Ikhilae, Lagos - 02.08.2007

The court rules today, having heard submissions of parties in the case.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed their bail applications on the ground that the accused persons could run away from trial.

While opposing the bail applications, lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, urged the court not to grant them bail on the ground that they could influence the prosecution witnesses.

He added that but for the intervention of the American Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI), the ex-governor would not have returned to Nigeria to honour EFCC’s invitation.

“The first accused person travelled out of the country on April 23, 2007, when he was still enjoying immunity as a governor in order to avoid arrest and prosecution by the EFCC.

“He only returned to the country when he discovered that some former governors who reported to EFCC were not detained,” he said.

In their bail applications, the accused persons said they needed time to attend to their ill-health, following the inability of the EFCC to give them proper medical treatment.

They said that they would not jump bail and that they were not going to escape from justice, as they would not commit any offence, neither would they interfere with any further investigation or prosecution of the case if granted bail.

Leading other lawyers for the accused, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), while moving the bail application denied that Nnamani ever attempted to escape trial by travelling outside Nigeria, saying his trip abroad was on medical ground.

He added that his return was informed by his patriotic zeal and his desire to respond to EFCC allegations.

According to him his client was never arrested as he willfully decided to respond to EFCC’s invitation to him and others.

The three accused denied their alleged capacities to interfere with prosecution’s witnesses.

Dr. Nnamani, Mr. Sunday Anyaogu and Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli are standing trial on a 105-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, concealment and money laundering, totalling about N5.6 billion.

Dr. Nnamani also denied allegation by the commission that he was forced to return to the country while he was on vacation at the United States of America (USA), because he was being trailed for possible arrest by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence and Interpol, who were working in collaboration with the EFCC.