Ex-Adamawa Gov Ngilari serving 5 years prison term granted N100m bail

Former governor of Adamawa State, Mr Bala Ngilari, who was on March 6, sentenced to five years in prison without an option of fine, was on Monday granted bail in the sum of N100million.

Ngilari was imprisoned following his trial on the violation of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles at the cost of N167million.

However, Justice Nathan Musa of Yola High Court on Monday granted him bail on health grounds, following the appeal of his conviction.

Granting the former governor bail in the sum of N100million with two sureties, who must deposit Certificates of Occupancy of landed property owned in Yola, the presiding judge, Musa said that Ngilari would enjoy his bail pending the determination of his appeal.

Musa had in his judgement on March 6, that confined Ngilari to the four walls of a prison, held that due process was not followed in the award of contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles at the cost of N167million.

But Ngilari, not satisfied with the ruling appealed the sentence in the same court which convicted him. He demanded that he be granted bail on health reasons pending the outcome of his appeal.

Presiding Justice Musa, after hearing the arguments of the defendant’s lawyer, Mr Sam Olugunorisa (SAN) and that of EFCC, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, in the motion for bail pending appeal, granted Ngilari’s request.

Ngilari’s medical report signed by Mr John Bukar, a Deputy Comptroller in charge of Health, shows that Ngilari had diabetes, hypertension and insomnia.

The report further disclosed that Ngilari, who had been referred to Canada Specialist Hospital in Dubai, for evaluation and management, had blood pressure that was rising between 180/110 MMHG to 190/120 MMHG.

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