Jailed Adamawa Former Gov Ngilari Released From Prison

…Spends 20 days out of five years sentence
BY SYLVESTER ALIJO, ABUJA – Convicted and jailed former Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari who was sent to jail about three weeks ago has been released from prison.
Ngilari, who spent about 20 days out of his five-year jail sentence, is believed to have been granted bail on health ground.
The former Adamawa governor was found guilty on five-count charge of conspiracy to award contracts amounting to about N167,812,500 for the purchase of 25 units of operational official vehicles for the state without following due process.
The trial judge, Justice Nathan Musa, while ruling in the case said Ngilari’s conviction was based on section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Acts.
According to Justice Musa, “The hands of the laws are tied to convict any person found guilty of breach of procurement acts to be sentenced to less than five years imprisonment. The convict is sentenced to a cumulative sentence of five years, cumulatively on all the five counts to any jail in this country of his choice.
“But, in the meantime, he will be held here in the Yola Prison. The convict will enjoy his bail pending the determination of his Appeal,” Justice Musa ruled.
Forefront gathered that Ngilari, who has appealed his sentence, went back to Justice Musa and requested for bail, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
Justice Musa, after listening to arguments of Legal Counsel to Ngilari, Mr Sam Olugunorisa (SAN) and that of EFCC, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, in the motion for bail pending Appeal, granted Ngilari’s request.
The bail plea was supported by a medical report on Ngilari, from the Yola Prison, which indicated that the former governor had been under intensive medical management.
The prison medical report, which was signed by a Deputy Comptroller in charge of Health, Mr John Bukar, stated that Ngilari had diabetes, hypertension and insomnia.
The report further said that Ngilari, who has been referred to Canada Specialist Hospital in Dubai, for evaluation and management, had blood pressure that was rising between 180/110 MMHG to 190/120 MMHG.