The Federal High Court in Asaba has granted bail to the 4 accused persons standing trial in a 7 count charge of terrorism, attempted murder , malicious damage of police/ vigilante patrol vehicle and illegal possession of fire arms among others following the petition filed against them by the Obi of Ogwashi Uku Kingdom , Dr Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjor 11.
The accused persons are the National legal Advisor of the Ogwashi – Uku Development Association , world wide , Barrister Francis Okolie, Prince Eugene Izediunor, Mr John Nwona, who is the Agidiase Youth President and the Secretary General of Ogwashi Uku Development Association, Adigwe Eluemunor Sunday.
Counsel to the First Defendant, Efe Akpofure SAN, Second defendant, Albert Akpomudje SAN , 3rd defendant , Professor Oludayo Amokaye SAN and 4th defendant, Andrew Malgwi SAN had in their bail applications urged the court to apply its discretionary powers in granting the accused persons bail assuring that they would not jump bail.
However, the prosecution Counsel , Barrister Orji Kalu in a counter affidavit urged the court to deny the defendants bail in view of the severity of the charges against them and the likelihood that they will jump bail.
Ruling on the bail applications , the presiding Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Agbaje noted that the accused persons had been regular in the Court sittings and would not likely abuse the bail if granted them , alluding to the fact that bail was at the discretion of the court.
Justice Agbaje therefore granted the defendants bail at Five million naira each , a surety each in like sum who must be a responsible citizen and owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court insisting that the original title document of the said landed property should be deposited with the court.
The Court also ordered the defendants to deposit their International passports with the court and barred them from traveling out during the pendency of the trial.
The Court threatened to revoke the bail should the defendants fail to stand trial and adjourned the case to the 11th and 12th of February 2025 for commencement of trial.
Reacting to the ruling , counsel to the first defendant, Efe Akpofure SAN and that of the second defendant, Albert Akpomudje SAN expressed satisfaction with the ruling which they said was at the discretion of the court.