Mr. Raji told the court that the defendant was undergoing medical treatment before he was summoned by the EFCC to return to the country. He also pleaded with the court to order the release of the defendant’s international passport which was deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions.
Browsing: Mr. Ahmed Raji
According to an affidavit filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), in support of the fundamental rights suit, Yakubu had admitted to be owner of the money but claimed that it was a gift he accumulated over a period of about five years, and not proceeds of crime.
“We suspected that the cash came in between 2012 and 2014 but Yakubu has refused to disclose the sources. Maybe when his trial begins, he will open up in court. We believe he owes it a duty as a citizen to name those who showered the huge gifts on him.”
The EFCC further urged the court to disregard the application on the grounds that it was a ploy by the applicant to frustrate investigation into the matter, adding that the applicant would not be prejudiced by the refusal of this application.
Last week, Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar of the Federal High Court Kano, while ruling on an ex pate application filed before it by the EFCC’s counsel, ordered that the $9.8 million and 74,000 pounds recovered from Mr. Yakubu be forfeited to the federal government.