A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Sani Malumfashi, and two other officials of the commission over alleged involvement in a ₦1 billion fraud.
Malumfashi is standing trial alongside Anas Muhammed Mustapha, Secretary of KANSIEC, and Ado Garba, a Deputy Director in the Accounts Department of the commission.
The trio were arraigned before Justice James Omotosho on Tuesday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.
Ruling on their bail applications on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of ₦200 million, with two sureties each in like sum.
The trial judge held that the offences charged are bailable and not capital in nature. He also noted that the prosecution did not oppose the bail applications.
Justice Omotosho ordered that each surety must own a property worth not less than ₦100 million within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and must depose to an affidavit of means.
The court further directed the sureties to present evidence of tax payments for the last three years, recent passport photographs, as well as certified true copies of bank statements belonging to both the sureties and the defendants.
The defendants were also ordered to deposit their international passports with the court registrar for verification.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Omotosho ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, and adjourned the matter to March 4, 2026, for commencement of trial.
According to the ICPC, the defendants allegedly siphoned ₦450 million, ₦310 million and ₦260 million between November and December 2024.
In the charge dated November 28 and filed on December 1, 2025, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired to unlawfully take possession of ₦450 million through accounts operated by SLM Agro Global Farm Limited domiciled with Jaiz Bank, funds believed to be proceeds of illegal activities.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.
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