The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Sani Malumfashi, and two others at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged money laundering totalling N1bn.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order after Malumfashi and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge filed against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The judge ruled that the defendants should be remanded in custody pending the hearing and determination of their formal bail applications.
Malumfashi is standing trial alongside the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and a Deputy Director in the commission’s accounts department, Ado Garba.
According to the charge, the defendants were accused of conspiring between November and December 2024 to launder the sums of N450m, N310m and N260m, amounting to N1bn.
The ICPC alleged that part of the funds was channelled through accounts linked to SLM Agro Global Farm domiciled with Jaiz Bank and formed proceeds of unlawful activities.
When the case was called, the defendants pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them without objection from their counsel, Mahmud Magaji (SAN).
Magaji applied orally for bail, arguing that his clients had complied with administrative bail earlier granted by the commission, but the court directed that a formal application be filed.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until January 28 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendants to remain in custody pending then.