Court Grants Woman Who Claims Snake Swallows JAMB Money N20m Bail

Philomina Chieshe, the clerical officer of Joint Admission and Matriculations Board, (JAMB), who claimed that the N35, 480, 000 being JAMB proceeds in her custody was swallowed by a snake in Makurdi, Benue State has been granted N20 million bail.

Chieshe who is facing trial alongside Samuel Sale Umoru for allegedly misappropriating N35, 480, 000 (Thirty Five Million Four Hundred and Eighty Naira) belonging to the Board was granted bail by Justice Peter Affen on Monday.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, counsel to Chieshe, O. Mark, told the court that a motion in notice filed on May 30, 2019 which is for bail application is ready to be moved.

He further told the court that his client is already standing trial at a lower court and has not absconded from investigation. He relied on Sections 158, 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 to move his bail application.

Justice Affen thereafter granted bail to Chieshe to the tune of N20 million with two sureties in like some.

The sureties, the Judge ruled, must show proof of ownership of landed properties of same value within FCT. The defendant must also deposit her international passport with the registrar of the court. He further ordered that Chieshe be remanded in Suleja prison until her bail conditions are fulfilled.

In the case of Samuel Umoru, the trial Judge, while ruling on his bail application moved by his counsel, A. Ihejerika, noted that the counter affidavit filed by the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, showed that the defendant stopped reporting to EFCC since 2017 for further investigation until he was arrested in May 2019.

Quoting the judge, EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade in a statement, said the attitude portrayed him as one who could jump bail. He therefore asked Ihejerika to file his response to show why his client should be granted bail.

Ihejerika then prayed the court to grant him a short adjournment so he can file his response properly.

Justice Affen then granted his prayer and adjourned to June 11, 2019 for further hearing on the bail application.

Meanwhile Umoru is to be remanded in Kuje prison till the next adjourned date.

In the same vein, a former Plateau state coordinator of JAMB, Yakubu Jekada, was granted bail by Justice Peter Affen.

Jekada who is standing trial for diverting the sum of N11,000,000 (Eleven Million Naira) belonging to JAMB to personal use was granted bail to the tune of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) and one surety in like some. He also ordered that his international passport be deposited with the court Registrar.

The Judge ruled that the surety must show evidence of ownership of a landed property in FCT while the lead counsel for the defendant, Gyang Zi, must recommend in writing that the surety is of good behaviour.

Pending the fulfilment of his bail, Justice Affen ordered Jekada to be remanded in Kuje prison.

The hearing of suit was then adjourned to September 16, 2019.