31 Inmates Get Freedom as Court Grants Ex-Governor Yero Bail

31 Inmates Get Freedom as Court Grants Ex-Governor Yero Bail

By Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, North-West, NIGERIA

The former governor of Kaduna state Ramalan Yero who was arraigned on 31^st May, 2018 has regained his freedom as a federal high court in Kaduna granted him bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties, one who must possess a landed property.

The presiding judge, Justice Lawal Shuaibu also granted bail in the sum of N1million to three others, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in the state, Abubakar Gaiya Haruna, former Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hamza Ishaq detained alongside Yero at the Kaduna prison.

They were arraigned and remanded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over charges related to receipt of 2015 Presidential campaign funds .Charging them for  money laundering and criminal conspiracy to misapply funds amounting to N700 million.

The court siting which lasted for about three hours and some minutes pulled mammoth crowd as the  road to Kawo, Zaria, Jos and other neighboring states were barricaded by Yero’s  supporters who were chanting his release and reigning curses on Baba Buhari  and  El-Rufai,  carrying  placards and banners with different inscriptions.

Speaking shortly after Yero was granted bail, his lawyer, Barr. Yunus Ustaz Usman SAN says: ” ” Yero is entitled to bail because the alleged offences are not murder and so they are bail able offenses”.

He said he was satisfied with the granting of the application for the bail of his client.Adding that  he had ealier put forward before the court a motion for bail application.

After perfecting the bail conditions at the court, Yero also secured the bail of thirty-one inmates serving various jail terms for different offenses at the Kaduna Central Prison.

He urged them to reflect on the good lessons they have learnt while in prison.

According to a statement signed by Yero’s former Commissioner, Samaila Aliyu,  he had described the former governor as one who is full of milk of human kindness. That he had demonstrated in his action by securing the release of some inmates.

Though, no specific amount was given as for the cost of their release. Samaila Aliyu who signed the statement on behalf of Yero simply said, the amount was over three million naira.

While efforts were still going on to see to the final documentation, it was a new fiesta at the court premises as Yero supporters refused him (Yero) being conveyed back in a prison vehicle to go and complete other documentations. Yero they insisted must be driven in a private vehicle since he had perfected the bail condition as such was conveyed in a SIENNA numbered DKA-940AV.

As someone puts it, “It was really a high degree of loyalty being demonstration by his admirers” as it took the help of some teargas to disperse the mammoth crowd.