CONCLUSIVE COURT UPDATE: VICTORY AT LAST FOR NNAMDI KANU'S CO-DEFENDERS
Moses Agbo Reporting for Family Writers Press
Proceedings commenced at exactly 11:30am following bail applications filed by Nnamdi Kanu's co-defendants before Abuja-based Federal High Court 3 presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, which came up today being Monday 25th June 2018. The bail application of the defendants was duly read out after the introduction of the defending counsels led by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor. The Judge proceeded with the reading of all the arguments as previously advanced and debated before the court by the legal counsels. The first defendant, Bright Chimezie as channeled by his counsel, vividly gave the narratives of all the reports bordering on the arrest of his client, the jurisdiction and the contempt of court committed by the plaintiff against the ruling of the Federal High Court based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in which the defendant was pointedly granted unconditional release.
The presiding judge in her ruling, dismissed all the cases of other three defendants who have extra-judicially been in detention in Kuje prisons for almost three good calendar years without trials, and have painstakingly endured deteriorating health conditions during the period of their incarceration. Justice Binta Nyako further corroborated Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the leading defense counsel, when she cited some legal referrals which stated that bail is a fundamental right of everyone irrespective of the initiator of the prosecution. She thereafter ruled conclusively in favor of all the four (4) Biafran detainees by granting them bail though with stringent conditions. The bail conditions as spelt out include:
(1) Provision of a surety with bail bond of ten million (N10 million) each.
(2) They must visit the Commissioner of Police in Abuja fortnightly (every two weeks) for security scrutiny
(3) That each one of them must submit their International Documents to the Police authorities.
(4) That they are not allowed to attend any form of demonstration or public gathering.
(5) They must not travel abroad without court orders and must refrain from any type of Press briefing.
The leading defense counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor thereafter, pleaded with an oral motion for exclusion of constant security scrutiny in the office of the Commissioner of Police in Abuja, stating that his clients' locations are variously different and far from the Federal Capital. He also appealed that the court should in it's wisdom, caution the Nigerian Security Operatives against molesting his clients or violating their rights as was done to Citizen Nnamdi Kanu. The Nigerian army murderously invaded his home while he was enjoying the bail granted him in the year 2017. Quite a number of Biafrans were gruesomely killed and Nnamdi Kanu himself taken away to unknown location. Till date, he has neither been seen nor heard of.
Responding to the plea, Justice Binta Nyako reaffirmed that the first defendant will rather be visiting the Police Command in Rivers State while the other three will focus their visits to Enugu State Police Command. She also gave the assurance that nobody or agency has the tenacity under the law to violate their rights nor molest them while enjoying their bails.
The accused persons granted bail are Benjamin Mmadubugwu, David Nwawuisi, Bright Chimezie and Chidiebere Onwudiwe.
The attention of the court was also drawn in respect of the properties of Benjamin Mmadubugwu whose properties, even completely exclusive from the required exhibit were starkly looted by the officials of the Department of Security Services (DSS). The presiding judge maintained that the said properties must be in the custody of the DSS which according to her will be released pending the conclusion of the case which will soon commence. Hearing in the case was therefore adjourned to the 14th of November, 2018.
Moses Agbo Reporting for Family Writers Press
Proceedings commenced at exactly 11:30am following bail applications filed by Nnamdi Kanu's co-defendants before Abuja-based Federal High Court 3 presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, which came up today being Monday 25th June 2018. The bail application of the defendants was duly read out after the introduction of the defending counsels led by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor. The Judge proceeded with the reading of all the arguments as previously advanced and debated before the court by the legal counsels. The first defendant, Bright Chimezie as channeled by his counsel, vividly gave the narratives of all the reports bordering on the arrest of his client, the jurisdiction and the contempt of court committed by the plaintiff against the ruling of the Federal High Court based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in which the defendant was pointedly granted unconditional release.
The presiding judge in her ruling, dismissed all the cases of other three defendants who have extra-judicially been in detention in Kuje prisons for almost three good calendar years without trials, and have painstakingly endured deteriorating health conditions during the period of their incarceration. Justice Binta Nyako further corroborated Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the leading defense counsel, when she cited some legal referrals which stated that bail is a fundamental right of everyone irrespective of the initiator of the prosecution. She thereafter ruled conclusively in favor of all the four (4) Biafran detainees by granting them bail though with stringent conditions. The bail conditions as spelt out include:
(1) Provision of a surety with bail bond of ten million (N10 million) each.
(2) They must visit the Commissioner of Police in Abuja fortnightly (every two weeks) for security scrutiny
(3) That each one of them must submit their International Documents to the Police authorities.
(4) That they are not allowed to attend any form of demonstration or public gathering.
(5) They must not travel abroad without court orders and must refrain from any type of Press briefing.
The leading defense counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor thereafter, pleaded with an oral motion for exclusion of constant security scrutiny in the office of the Commissioner of Police in Abuja, stating that his clients' locations are variously different and far from the Federal Capital. He also appealed that the court should in it's wisdom, caution the Nigerian Security Operatives against molesting his clients or violating their rights as was done to Citizen Nnamdi Kanu. The Nigerian army murderously invaded his home while he was enjoying the bail granted him in the year 2017. Quite a number of Biafrans were gruesomely killed and Nnamdi Kanu himself taken away to unknown location. Till date, he has neither been seen nor heard of.
Responding to the plea, Justice Binta Nyako reaffirmed that the first defendant will rather be visiting the Police Command in Rivers State while the other three will focus their visits to Enugu State Police Command. She also gave the assurance that nobody or agency has the tenacity under the law to violate their rights nor molest them while enjoying their bails.
The accused persons granted bail are Benjamin Mmadubugwu, David Nwawuisi, Bright Chimezie and Chidiebere Onwudiwe.
The attention of the court was also drawn in respect of the properties of Benjamin Mmadubugwu whose properties, even completely exclusive from the required exhibit were starkly looted by the officials of the Department of Security Services (DSS). The presiding judge maintained that the said properties must be in the custody of the DSS which according to her will be released pending the conclusion of the case which will soon commence. Hearing in the case was therefore adjourned to the 14th of November, 2018.
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