By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
It is not yet Uhuru for the former governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Timipre Sylva as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned him before a Federal High Court in Abuja for ‘fraud’ involving about N2.45 billion.
The accused allegedly committed the offence between October 2009 and February 2010 as governor of Bayelsa State.
He pleaded not guilty to all the six counts when he was re-arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu yesterday.
Meanwhile, Sylva also has similar charges pending against him before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sylva had earlier pleaded not guilty to the six counts when he was first arraigned for the offences before Justice Adamu Bello (retd) on June 5, 2012.
The matter had to start afresh following the retirement of Justice Bello, a development which prompted Sylva’s re-arraignment before Justice Chukwu.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who signed the charges, accused Sylva of offences, including conversion of various sums of money belonging to the state with the aim of concealing their illicit origins.
He allegedly committed the offences in conspiracy with other unnamed persons said to be at large.
After the arraignment, Justice Chukwu granted bail to Sylva in the conditions and terms previously granted by the former trial judge.
The oral bail application by Sylva’s lawyer, Israel Olorundare, was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel from Keyamo’s law firm, Mr. John Ainetor.
Ainetor had only urged the court to grant the bail if it was willing to do so in terms that would secure the availability of the accused person in court.
The court fixed May 25, for commencement of trial.
