Justice Suleiman Belgore of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has ruled that former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The ruling was given on Monday when the EFCC arraigned Wakil with two companies, Corozzeria Nigeria Limited and Pikat Properties Nigeria Limited, over alleged financial impropriety.
Wakil is to remain in the custody of the anti-graft commission until March 31.
The ruling followed the failure of his lawyer’s oral application for bail.
His lawyer, B.C. Igwilo (SAN) made an oral application for bail, but was objected by prosecution lawyer, Benjamin Manji.
Wakil was arrested by operatives of the EFCC at his Abuja residence on Sunday for allegedly receiving N148 million as gratification from Bestworth Insurance Brokers Limited out of the N27,188,232,208 approved outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
When arraigned, the former minister pleaded not guilty.
The charge reads: “That you Muhammed Wakil, while being Minister of Power and managing director of Corozzeria Nigeria Limited, and Corozzeria Nigeria Limited, on or about 22nd December, 2014, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did corruptly receive the sum of N118 million through Corozzeria Nigeria Limited’s Polaris Bank Account No. 4010023658 from Bestworth Insurance Brokers Limited out of the sum of N27.1 billion being the sum approved for the payment of outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 8(1)(b)(ii)of the same Act.”
