Police Sergeant charged with robbing Goodluck's home granted bail by Abuja magistrates court

POLICE sergeant Musa Musa who was one of the three policemen arrested in connection with the robbery at former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan's Abuja home has been granted bail after appearing in court and pleading not guilty to the charge.

According to police authorities, the trio were employed to guard the former president's private home in Gwarimpa Estate in Abuja and upon their arrest, admitted to selling some of the items which they stole from the house. Identified items allegedly stolen by the policemen include expensive furniture, television sets, refrigerators, split air conditioners,  bowler hats,  designer suits and some Ijaw attire.

Sergeant Musa, 23, before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, during which he pleaded not guilty. He was thereafter granted bail by the Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello, in the sum of N7m with a surety in like sum.

Magistrate Segun-Bello said: “Until the court is sufficiently satisfied and convinced by available materials placed before it to deny the bail of the accused, his right to bail must not be denied. There is no material before the court to support the submission by the prosecution that the allegations of house breaking, mischief and theft, contrary to sections 358, 326 and 288 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, is of national importance and national security.

“In the absence of such evidence before the court, the accused should be tried strictly on the basis of the allegations against him.” Under his bail conditions, Sergeant Musa is to provide a surety, who must be a civil servant of any grade with an easily identifiable address in Abuja.