This Day
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million each; 13 out of the 15 defendants arraigned over complicity in the invasion of the residence of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili.
The defendants were admitted to bail in the said sum with two sureties in like sum.
While the court declined to grant an oral application for the 11th and 15th defendants, it held that there was no bail application in respect of the 14th defendant.
Justice Maha subsequently ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center, pending the next adjourned date of January 17 and 18, 2022.
The defendants were arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy to commit felony and alleged forgery of court documents.
Other charges include attempt to effect an unlawful search warrant at the house of the second most senior Justice of the country as well as threat to her life and that of members of her household.
They however pleaded not guilty to all the charges, following which their lawyers moved and argued their bail application, which were not opposed by prosecution counsel, Mr Mathew Amosun, on the grounds that the court attach “stringent conditions” to the bail.
Delivering ruling in the applications, Justice Maha held that bail is at the discretion of the court and since the alleged offences are bailable, the court is inclined to admit the defendants to bail, adding that the court having reviewed materials placed before it found no reason not to admit the defendants to bail.
Part of the bail conditions are that the sureties, who must be residents of Abuja, must deposed to affidavit of means and must be responsible citizens.
The court held that one of the sureties must own landed property, with original copies of the property deposited with the Registrar of the Court, while the second surety must be gainfully employed in Abuja, with proof of three years recent tax payment.
Registrar of court is to verify the properties alongside their addresses.
The applicants and sureties are also to submit recent passport photographs with the court, as well as their international passports.
