IGNATIUS UDEH V. THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

MUHAMMAD, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): Decree No. 13 of 1995 as amended by Decree No.62 of 1999 provided for advance fee fraud and related offences. The appellant in the instant appeal was arrested and subsequently arraigned and charged before Hon. Justice Keezor of the Anambra State High Court at Onitsha pursuant to the Decree. Appellant had allegedly induced a limited liability company, Investment and Industries Limited, to deliver to him the sum of Seventy-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty United State Dollars ($78,950). This sum was delivered to the appellant who had falsely pretended that the amount was to be used to import goods from Bankok, Thailand, for the company. On arraignment before the trial court, which by the relevant provisions of Decree No.13 as amended had the jurisdiction to try the matter, the appellant applied that he be admitted to bail. The trial court granted the appellant’s application on 15/12/99. These were the terms of the bail:- “(1) The app…