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A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Sani Malumfashi, chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), in the sum of N200 million.
Malumfashi is standing trial alongside Anas Muhammed Mustapha, secretary of KANSIEC, and Ado Garba, a deputy director in the accounts department of the electoral body, over allegations of N1 billion fraud.
They were arraigned before James Omotosho, the presiding judge, on Tuesday.
Delivering a ruling on their bail applications on Wednesday, Omotosho, granted each defendant bail of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge observed that the charges against the defendants are bailable and not capital offences.
He also considered the position of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which did not oppose the bail applications.
Omotosho directed that each surety must own property valued at a minimum of N100 million within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and depose to an affidavit of means.
He further ordered the sureties to present their evidence of tax payments for the past three years, alongside recent passport photographs and certified true copies of bank statements from both the sureties and the defendants.
The defendants are to submit their international passports to the court registrar for verification.
The judge adjourned the matter to March 4 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants remain at the Kuje correctional centre until all bail conditions are perfected.
The ICPC accused the defendants of syphoning N450 million, N310 million, and N260 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 take possession of N450 million through SLM Agro Global Farm accounts domiciled with Jaiz Bank, arguing that the funds were believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The offences are contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the six-count charge was read to them on Tuesday.
