The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Friday arraigned a former Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Grace Taiga, on 8-court charge.
She was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over her alleged involvement in the signing of the controversial gas supply contract between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and an Irish firm, Processes and Industrial Development (P&ID).
On Thursday, a federal high court in Abuja convicted P&ID Nig. Ltd on economic sabotage, money laundering and tax evasion.
Taiga was arraigned on charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and gratification, among others.
Taiga is being accused of signing the said agreement without obtaining approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as required by law.
She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following her not guilty plea, counsel to the EFCC, Bala Sanga, asked that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the commencement of trial.
Sanga, in addition, asked for an adjournment to enable the prosecution call its witnesses to prove the charge against the defendant.
However, attempt by her counsel, Chief Ola Olanipekun (SAN), to move an oral application for her bail was turned down by the court.
Similar request that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody was rejected following EFCC objection.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, accordingly ordered that she be remanded in Suleja prison pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till September 25 for the hearing of her bail application.
