A Federal High Court in Lugbe, Abuja on Wednesday granted N500,000 bail to a 25-year old man, Uroko Louis, standing trial before it over alleged fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the defendant over alleged impersonation and fraud involving the sum of $400 to which he pleaded not guilty to on April 9.

In his ruling, Justice Cyprian Agashieze, ordered the defendant to provide two sureties, who must be public servants of not below grade level 12.

Mr Agashieze added that the sureties must produce means of identification, passport photographs, promotion and employment letters, and that their addresses should be verified by the court’s registrar.

He also ordered that the defendant should remain in the EFCC’s custody until his bail conditions were perfected, adding, ” if he is unable to perfect his bail conditions, he should be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kuje, Abuja”

He thereafter adjourned the matter until May 13 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Olanrewaju Adeola, told the court that in 2023, the defendant impersonated an American named, Louis Andrew and fraudulently obtained $400 through a gift card from a female American, named Van.

Adeola said that the offence contravened Sections 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under 324 of the same act.

The Defence Counsel, Paul Akogwu, prayed the court to grant his client bail, citing Sections 36(5) of the 1999 constitution and 158, 161 and 163 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Akogwu added that the defendant was presumed innocent until proven guilty, and urged the court to grant him bail in the most liberal terms.

(NAN)