A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital has granted bail to 12 out of 15 defendants being prosecuted by the Nigerian Government for allegedly attempting to carry out a search in the Abuja residence of Supreme Court Justice, Justice Mary Odili.
They were being prosecuted on 18 count charges bordering on attempt to execute unlawful search warrant on the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili, serving justice of the Supreme Court.
Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court granted
each of the 12 defendants bail in the sum of Five Million naira each with two sureties each in the like sum.
One of the two sureties must be a responsible citizen and have a property in Abuja worth not below five million naira.
Show evidence
According to Justice Maha, the second sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years tax payment.
In separate rulings on the ball for the defendants filed by their respective lawyers, Justice Maha held that the defendants placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant their being admitted to bail.
Aside the Five Million naira bail bonds, the judge also ordered that the defendants must deposit their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation in the court.
Pending the perfection of thei bail conditions, Justice Maha ordered that they be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre (prison) in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the oral bail applications made for 11th and 15th defendants, ASP Mohammed Yahaya and Abdullahi Usman respectively were refused by the judge on the grounds that no material evidence was placed before the court to justify their oral request for bail.
The judge ordered that the two defendants be kept in Kuje Correctional Centre till the date of the trial.
14th defendant, Abdullahi Adamu, who has no lawyer to apply for his bail, was ordered to be kept at Kuje Correctional Centre till the trial date.
The 15th defendant, who is the only female among them, Hajia Memunat Maisara was ordered to be kept at Suleja Correctional Centre.
The defendants comprised two senior lawyers, Alex Onyekuru and Igwe Ernest as well as a senior journalist, Mr Stanley Nkwazema and Hajia Memunat Maisanu.
Others are Adjodo Lawrence, Michael Diete-Spiff, Barrister Alex Onyekuru, Bayero Lawal (AKA Director of EFCC), Barrister Igwe Ernest, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim, Hajiya Maimuna Maishanu and Dr. Ayodele Akindipe (AKA Herbalist).
The rest are Yusuf Adamu (AKA Godson to Chief Peter Odili), Bashir Musa, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP, Mohammed Yahaya, Stanley Nkwazema, Shehu Jibo, Abdullahi Adamu and Abdullahi Usman.
The presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Maha fixed January 17th and 18th for the commencement of trial.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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