CORRUPTION: Court Remands Former Power Minister Wakil In Custody

The former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, will be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ordered on Monday.

Justice Suleiman Belgore said Wakil will remain in the custody until March 31 when his formal bail application would be considered.

Justice Belgore gave the ruling when, after Wakil’s arraignment on a two-count charge of corruption and abuse of office, the prosecution opposed the oral bail application made by his lawyer.

Wakil, who was arrested by the EFCC at his Abuja home on Sunday, was arraigned yesterday with two companies, Corozzeria Nigeria Limited and Pikat Properties Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC accused Wakil of receiving N148 million gratification from Bestworth Insurance Brokers Limited out of the N27,188,232,208 approved outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).