The 21 bank officials standing trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan,Oyo State,over N8-billion scam face 21 years jail term if convicted. The court had refused to grant them bail. The accused persons, who were from different commercial banks and the Central Bank ofNigeria, Ibadan branch, are facing a 31-count charge including conspiracy, concealment and acquisition of property in excess of actual income.

They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The accused who appeared in three batches before the presiding judge,JusticeAyo Emmanuel, Monday, were Kolawole Babalola,Olaniran MuniruAdeola,  Toogun Kayode Philip, Salami Ibrahim and Oduah Emmanuel.Thesecond set included Patience Okoro, Afolabi Olufemi Johnson, Ilori

Adekunle Sunday,Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Fatai Adedokun Yusuf.Thethird set comprised Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola,Toogun Kayode Philips and Tope Akintade.Justice Emmanuel, while refusing bail for all the accused, maintained that the charges against them were grievous and mind-boggling, insisting that their alleged offence had affected the “fabrics of the nation’s economy and the interest of the common man.

” The judge said that the offence “attracts a maximum sentence of 21 years.” “Though it may be hard to admit, keeping the accused persons in prison until the determination of their case, I believe, is in the interest of the nation,” the presiding judge said. Justice Emmanuel said he had reflected on the submissions of both the prosecution counsel and the defence counsel on their arguments on bail applications, he maintained that he was not persuaded by the nature and the gravity of the alleged offence to grant them (the accused)bail.

He said that the charges against all the accused showed a new wave in the crime against the nation’s economy which must be viewed “with all seriousness. “On the fourth accused that was said to have serious ailment, Justice Emmanuel ruled that he should be quarantined from the rest of the accused if the diseases believed to be contagious. He ordered a full examination on the nature of the illness, adding that the result should be forwarded to the court as soon as possible.

However, there was an indication that the accused might challenge the court’s judge mention the bail application going by the comments of their counsel shortly after Justice Emmanuel had delivered the ruling.

Mr Olalekan Ojo, one of the defence counsel, told journalists that, though the ruling was not expected, his clients would challenge the ruling. Another defence counsel, Otunba Bolanle Olayinka, equally said that the accused might consider other options.

Another batch of the accused will on Friday know their fate as regards their request for bail though from another judge, Justice Adeyinka Faji.