An Abuja High Court on Wednesday granted a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godsday Orubebe, bail in the sum of 10 million Naira, having pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal diversion of funds.
Mr Orubebe was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
He is standing trial along two others over alleged diversion of 2.3 billion Naira.
The court also granted bail in the sum of 20 million Naira each to Oludare Alaba and Ephraim Zeri, directors of contract in the Ministry of Niger Delta.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in his ruling, ordered Mr Orubebe to produce one surety in like sum, stressing that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian with evidence of three years tax payment and landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
The court, however, ordered Alaba and Zeri to also produce one surety each in like sum. It said the surety must be an assistant director in the civil service and a land-owner within the court jurisdiction.
Justice Adeniyi also asked the ICPC to hold the defendants until they perfect their bail conditions.
The Trial of the accused persons has been fixed for November 10.