Former Chief of Staff Denied Bail in Money Laundering Case
Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, the ex-Chief of Staff to former Governor Malam Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has been denied bail and will remain in prison custody following a ruling by a state high court in a money laundering case against him. The court had initially scheduled a ruling on his bail application for January 16, 2025. However, when the case came up on Thursday, Sa’idu was refused bail.
State High Court Denies Bail Application
The decision to deny Sa’idu bail was based on the fact that a formal charge had been filed against him at the Kaduna State High Court II. The court directed Sa’idu to apply for bail at the court where the charges were pending, effectively denying his immediate release.
Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Samson Irimiya (Esq), representing the state government, informed journalists that the arraignment of the former Chief of Staff will take place on January 21, 2025, before Justice Isa Aliyu. Irimiya stated, “The bail application ruling was delivered refusing the bail application principally on the ground that since a formal charge had been filed by us, it is better that the Applicant goes to the court where the charge is filed and pending to apply for bail.”
Allegations of Money Laundering
Sa’idu, also a former Commissioner of Finance, was brought before the state high court on charges of money laundering. According to a security source, Sa’idu allegedly sold $45 million in hard currency belonging to the Kaduna State Government at an undervalued rate, resulting in a loss of N3.9 billion to the government in 2022. The prosecution claimed that Sa’idu laundered the N3.9 billion discrepancy in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Expert Commentary and Legal Proceedings
Counsel for Sa’idu, Oladipo Tolani SAN, confirmed that the court instructed them to take the bail application to the court where the charges had been filed. The legal proceedings against Sa’idu are set to continue, with his arraignment scheduled for a later date.
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the political and legal circles of Kaduna State, the former Chief of Staff’s involvement in alleged money laundering has raised concerns about corruption within the state government. Sa’idu’s denial of bail underscores the seriousness of the accusations against him and the legal battle that lies ahead.
