By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—THE  countenances of some staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other commercial banks standing trial over alleged stealing of N8.5 billion fell yesterday when a Federal High Court in Ibadan refused to grant their bail applications.

Dissatisfied with an earlier ruling of Justice Olayinka Faaji, who withdrew from the case following allegations of bias by counsel to the defendants, the accused persons, through their counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo filed fresh bail applications before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who took over the case.

Counsel of both the defendants and the prosecution, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had argued for and against the bail applications.

While Olalekan Alli, defendants’ counsel argued that the offence was a bailable one as enshrined in the Constitution, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs who is holding the brief for EFCC argued that with the weight of the offence, and evidence before the court, the accused persons may jump bail if granted.

Ruling on the bail applications by the second, third, fourth and fifth accused persons, Justice Abdulmalik said though the offence committed by them was bailable, bailability of an accused is dependent on weight of evidence before the court.