By Vincent Egunyanga, Abuja
Justice Babangida Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has dismissed a bail application filed by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Salami (SAN), against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He gave the ruling on Thursday.
Malami, through his counsel, Dr Suliaman Hassan (SAN), had approached the court seeking bail from the EFCC’s custody, arguing that his detention by the Commission in its ongoing investigation was illegal.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Chief Jibrin S. Okutepa, SAN, submitted that the EFCC was holding the former Minister pursuant to a valid Remand Order issued by Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court.
He also affirmed that the EFCC was a law-abiding Commission that would not detain a suspect beyond the lawful period without a court order.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan held, quoting Section 35 of the Constitution, that since there was a provision in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act for detention, Malami was lawfully detained by the Remand Order of the court.
“Asking this court to grant this application is tantamount to inviting the court to sit as an appellate court over an application made by a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which the court has no power to do,” he said.
Malami is facing 18 charges of money laundering, abuse of office and terrorism financing.
He is to remain in prison custody pending further investigation.
