The Central Criminal Court in London has again denied Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, bail, saying he is a flight risk.
The court gave its verdict at a recent pre-trial hearing in London and cited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) letter and assets forfeiture proceedings against the Senator.
In a bail application, Ekweremadu’s attorneys argued that the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Attorney-General of the Federation had written the court that Ekweremadu was not a flight risk and guaranteed to produce him should he do otherwise.
Also, they told the court that the Nigeria High Commission in the UK had suggested the option of tagging Ekweremadu electronically to track his movement.
The defence further told the court that there are sureties and securities of nearly half a million pounds sterling from 11 people to secure Ekweremadu’s release on bail.
The prosecution however insisted that Ekweremadu was a flight risk and cited 8th July 2022 letter by the EFCC signed by the Assistant Director Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkoi.
EFCC had indicted Ekweremadu and promised to instantly institute assets forfeiture proceedings and criminal processes against him after his detention in London.
The judge said: “I am entirely satisfied there remains a flight risk as the trial is just over a month away. Consequently, this bail application is refused.”
Ekweremadu’s trial will commence at the end of January 2023.
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