Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has been denied bail by the Central Criminal Court in London, widely known as the Old Bailey.
The court denied bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk during the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday.
The court noted the letter and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s asset seizure proceedings against the senator.
Ekweremadu’s counsel contended in the bail application that the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had written to the court stating that Ekweremadu was not a flight risk.
His defense also claimed that a guarantee to produce him was granted if he posed a flight risk, and that the Nigeria High Commission in the UK had also offered the option of electronically tagging Ekweremadu to track his movements.
In addition to citing attestation of Ekweremadu’s character by recognized Nigerians and organizations, his counsel stated that the congressman had shown to be a kind and responsible father who could not flee London, abandoning his wife and ailing daughter.
The defense also told the court that they had nearly half a million pounds sterling in sureties and securities from 11 people to guarantee Ekweremadu’s release on bail.
His defense stated that Ekweremadu was a highly appreciated and well-known public personality, and he was also involved in various global humanitarian courses.
The prosecution, on the other hand, claimed that Ekweremadu was a flight risk, claiming that as a bearer of international passports from two other nations, the lawmaker may flee to any of the other countries other than Nigeria.
The prosecution further alluded to the assets forfeiture proceedings against Ekweremadu in the Federal High Court in Abuja, citing the EFCC letter dated July 18, 2022, signed on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Abdulraheed Bawa, by the Assistant Director Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkoi.
Refusing bail, the Judge stated, “I am absolutely confident there remains a flight risk,” adding that release would make little difference “since the trial is only over a month away.”
Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Ekweremadu’s lawyer, claimed that the EFCC abbreviated Ekweremadu’s bail application in July.
Awomolu also accused the EFCC of dishonestly obtaining an interim assets forfeiture order against him by hiding key information from Justice Inyang Ekpo.
The EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), denied the claims as a simple coincidence.
The Ekweremadus trial will now begin on January 31, 2023.
