A Federal High Court? in Yenagoa has fixed May 17 for ruling on the bail application filed by 13 senior officials of Bayelsa Civil Service, standing trial over alleged involvement in a N6 billion wage bill fraud.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused persons, made up of staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Treasury Department, have been in Police custody since their arrest in March.
The 13 had pleaded not guilty to the charge.?
At Tuesday’s hearing, the presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa sought to know from the prosecution and the defence counsels if the affidavits and counter affidavits on the bail application had been served by both parties.
The two defence counsels, Iwolo Ibeni and E.M. Figilo told the court that their affidavits were served on May 9.
They argued that the prosecution have had enough time to file a counter affidavit.
On his part, the prosecution counsel, Mr Henry Ogbeiwi,?? said he needed time to reconcile the affidavits, which he told the court were served on May 9 and May 10.
The judge agreed to stand down the case for one hour to allow the prosecuting counsel go through? the papers and file his counter affidavit.
NAN reports that on resumption of the trial at about 12 noon, Ogbeiwi objected to the bail application but the defence counsel urged the court to dismiss the objection.
The judge fixed May 17 for ruling on whether to grant bail to the 13 accused persons.
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