A popular Nigerian Senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has been released from Kuji Prison.
Ndume has been detained in Kuje prison since Monday following his failure to produce Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT) who he had stood surety for. Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of money laundering involving N2bn.
However, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja in a ruling on Friday granted bail to the senator on the basis of his record of good behavior before the court.
The judge granted bail to the senator pending the hearing and determination of Ndume’s appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge Monday’s order sending him to jail for his inability to produce the fleeing Maina. He ordered the senator to produce one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and present evidence of ownership of property anywhere in Abuja.
According to the judge, the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means to indicate his readiness to forfeit the bail guaranty should the senator jump bail. The judge also ordered the senator to deposit his passport with the Chief Registrar of the court.
He also ordered the lawmaker to file an undertaking that he would compile records of appeal and transmit it to the Court of Appeal within 10 days, away the court wants him to demonstrate his readiness to prosecute his appeal.
