Maimuna Aliyu, mother of Maryam Sanda has secured bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in like sum from an FCT High Court in Jabi.
Maimuna, a former Executive Director (Retail) of Aso Savings and Loans was charged with a three-counts charge with the first count accusing her of selling off three plots of land in Jahi District, Abuja, on behalf of the bank at the cost of N57 million without remitting same to the bank.
When the charge was read to her in court today, she pleaded not guilty and her counsel, Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) applied for her to be released on bail. She was also accused of making false statement to the ICPC during investigation in that she allegedly claimed to have remitted the money to the bank through another staff of the bank while she knew the statement to be false.
Counsel to ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha informed the court that given the circumstance of the case, the prosecution would not be objecting to the bail application.
He urged the court to strike out the counter-affidavit the prosecution had earlier filed against the application.
The trial judge, Justice M.A. Nasir of an FCT High Court in Jabi, upon striking out the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in like sum that must be resident of the FCT and must swear to an affidavit of means.
She thereafter adjourned the matter to March 12 for hearing.
Daily Trust reports that Maimuna is also standing trial alongside her daughter, Maryam and son Aliyu before another FCT High Court in the same Jabi on their alleged involvement in the death of Bilyaminu Bello, a nephew of a former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bello Halliru Muhammadu.
While she, Aliyu and one Sadiya Aminu were released on bail, the court ordered that Maryam be remanded in prisons.
The trial in this matter resumes February 5 with the police expected to present witnesses.