BEVERLY HILLS, March 16, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, in Kuje Prison. 

After the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Yakubu on a six-count charge of fraud, the presiding judge, Ahmed Mohammed, gave the order
pending when the ruling on his bail application would be delivered on March 21.

The charges against the former NNPC boss, which bordered on fraud and false declaration of assets, were all in relation to the $9.8 million and £74, 000 recovered from his house in Kaduna on February 3.

Yakubu pleaded not guilty to the charges, and had earlier claimed that the monies were gift he received from friends.

Arguing his client’s bail application shortly after the arraignment, Mr Ahmed Raji SAN prayed the court to grant bail to Yakubu on either ‎self-recognisance.

But EFCC’s lead prosecuting counsel, Mr Ben Ikani, opposed the bail application, urging the judge to impose stringent conditions if the satisfied to grant bail to the defendant.