Anita Ogona
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice G. O. Ollor has granted bail to the tune of N1m each to three ex-soldiers and seven civilians facing trial over alleged armed robbery, burglary and receipt of stolen property.
reports that the Nigeria Police Force had arraigned the suspects numbering 12 on the aforementioned charges, although only 10 filed bail applications at the hearing on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
During the resumed trial on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, F. D. Sokari, representing the Inspector-General of Police, informed the court that their first witness, Emmanuel Nwogu, was again unavailable to appear in court for cross-examination, citing health challenges and asked for an adjournment.
Reacting, the defending counsel for the first defendant, (Isaac West), Monday Stephen-Akpekon moved a motion that the pending bail application be heard in the absence of the prosecution’s first witness.
The motion was supported by the defence counsel of the other 11 defendants and the prosecution counsel did not oppose it.
Having listened to the bail applications presented by the 10 defendants, the Presiding Judge, Justice G. O Ollor, granted a N1m bail to each defendant in accordance with the law.
The judge ordered that each defendant should provide a surety alongside the bail sum and that “the sureties of each applicant shall be a traditional ruler of the applicant’s native community or place of residence in Rivers State, who shall produce evidence of being a traditional ruler to the assistant chief registrar of the court”, amongst others conditions.
Speaking to our correspondent outside the courtroom, the defence counsel, Stephen-Akpekon, expressed gratitude to the judge for granting the bail application, noting that they would perfect the bail for his clients to be released.
He stated, “In the last adjourned date, we adjourned for bail consideration. Fortunately today, bail was considered. However, the prosecution did not produce their witness.
“Last time, they equally did not produce the same witness on the grounds that he was sick. One month after, they did not produce him. So, we applied that the court should discountenance that issue and take our bail application.
“Bail was taken and granted on the condition that a bail sum of N1m and the surety should be the traditional ruler from Rivers State or from the residing area of the defendant. We are grateful to the judge who looked carefully at the process and said the defendants merited this bail application and it was granted.
“We will perfect the bail, we will bring in surety, my person, West, we will surety him and up all the conditions. Then, he will be released. If he meets up these conditions.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the prosecution counsel were unsuccessful as he declined to speak to our correspondent.
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