Ex Governor of Ogun state Otunba Gbenga Daniel Granted N500m Bail

After four hours of proceedings Monday, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of the Ogun state High court 5 sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, southwest Nigeria, granted bail to the former governor of the state, Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which re-arraigned the former governor, accused him of fraudulently converting some government properties in the state to his personal use during his tenure as governor of the state between May 2003 and May 2011.

In the fresh 38-count charge levelled against Daniel, he was alleged to have stolen the sum of N211 million in several tranches while he was governor of the state.
Some of the government properties Daniel was accused of converting to his personal use include a guest house in Sagamu on which his Asoludero private residence was built and hectares of land in Iseri along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on which Western Publishing Company, the publishers of The Nigerian Compass newspaper which the commission alleged is owned by Daniel, was built, among others.
Daniel pleaded not guilty to the fresh 38-count charge which were read to him by the court registrar.
The charge include, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use, failure to declare his assets truthfully and alleged stealing of N211 million.
While ruling on the bail application, Justice Mabekoje said though granting bail to the accused was a discretionary act of the court, the offences allegedly committed by Daniel are bailable.
He said that the accused is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty by a competent court of law and he had neither been tried nor convicted by any court in Nigeria.
According to Mabekoje, “sufficient materials have been placed before the court to exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant to admit him to bail.
“Consequently, bail is hereby granted to the applicant in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. These sureties must be ordinarily resident in Ogun state. Each surety must own landed property anywhere in Ogun state and they must swear to an affidavit in their names and show proof that they are resident in Ogun state.
“Each surety must deposit with the Assistant Chief Registrar of this honourable court registered title document of their said landed properties and two clear passport photographs each of themselves and the applicant.
“The applicant’s international passport must be with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Pending the time the above stated conditions are perfected, the applicant is to be remanded in prison custody.”
At the time of filing this report, Daniel’s legal team was making frantic efforts to meet the bail conditions.
Most of his loyalists who were in court this morning were seen running helter-skelter to perfect the bail conditions while security men were seen around the former governor in anticipation of getting him arrested if they could not meet the bail conditions.