LAGOS, Nigeria – A Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele, who was accused of offering a bribe to officers of the Nigeria Police Force, has been granted bail in the sum of N500 million by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Maitama.
Akindele, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Duport Midstream Company Ltd, was arrested and charged after allegedly attempting to pay off policemen investigating him for a funds diversion case with N50 million.
Justice Hamza Muazu, in delivering the ruling on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, went against the appeal by the prosecution’s lawyer, Simon Lough (SAN), who had requested the continued detention of Akindele to allow the police to finalize their investigation.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu cited that the crime Akindele is accused of is typically bailable.
He mandated Akindele to provide two sureties, both matching the bail sum.
One of these sureties must be a property owner within the FCT and reside there.
Furthermore, Akindele was instructed to submit his international passport to the court, ensuring he does not leave the country.
Noting the impossibility of concluding the trial during the court’s vacation period, Justice Muazu returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another court following the vacation.
The charge against Akindele states that during an investigation into the alleged diversion of funds amounting to over $5 million and over N73 million, he offered a bribe of N150 million to SP Ibrahim Sini, out of which N50 million was already paid.
The intention was to influence the report in his favor and facilitate his escape abroad.
The prosecution emphasizes that the alleged act violates Section 118 of the Penal Code Law, which attracts significant penalties upon conviction.
Akindele’s legal team, led by Henry Eni-Out, maintains their client’s innocence and is preparing their defense as the case progresses.
