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An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State today admitted former governor of Oyo State Otunba Adebayo Alao- Akala, and two of his associates, Senator Hosea Agboola, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Mr. Femi Babalola, a contractor to bail on stringent conditions.
The trio are standing trial on an 11 count charge of conspiracy, illegal acquisition of property and illegal award of contracts preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ruling on their bail application, Justice Moshood Abass? observed that the offence for which the accused persons are standing trial attracts jail terms of between 3 and 7 years imprisonment on conviction. He said since it was not a capital offence, the accused persons were entitled to bail.
The trial judge noted that the second and third accused had visited EFCC more than seven times between 2007 and 2010 and were even granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency.
He stated that if the EFCC could grant them bail, it should not be the responsibility of the court to deny them bail. Justice Abass further stated that there was no proof before the court that the defendants would jump bail.
On the first accused, Justice Abass said the report available to court indicate that he is hypertensive and should not be denied access to proper medical attention.
He therefore admitted Alao-Akala to bail in the sum of N500million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have landed property in the Ibadan GRA, and swear to an affidavit of means.
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