In a significant turn of events, the bail granted to Geoffrey Akindele, a defendant in the trial involving the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has been revoked. Akindele stands accused alongside the ex-AGF in a case pertaining to the fraudulent diversion of public funds amounting to N109.5 million. Other defendants implicated in the case include Idris Mohammed, Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
During the court session on Tuesday, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court noted the absence of Akindele when the case was called. Present in court were only Idris and Usman, prompting Justice Halilu to inquire about Akindele’s whereabouts from the defendant’s counsel, S. E. Adino.
Adino assured the court that Akindele was en route to the court and had consistently attended previous hearings. Despite this explanation, Justice Halilu emphasized the responsibility of a defendant on bail to consistently attend court proceedings.
In light of Akindele’s absence, the judge took the drastic step of revoking his bail. Justice Halilu issued an order for the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to arrest Akindele promptly. The directive also mandates the production of Akindele in court on the next adjourned date.
This development adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing trial, signaling the court’s commitment to ensuring the presence of all involved parties for a fair and thorough adjudication of the case.