Breaking News
Alleged terrorism: Court rejects bail to Governor Fubara’s five detained loyalists
It held that the 3rd defendant did not adduce any concrete evidence to establish that he was suffering from a life threatening ailment that could not be handled by the prison authorities, adding that an affidavit the defendants attached in support of their application was vague.
A Federal High Court in Abuja denied bail Wednesday to five people accused of invading, vandalising, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
The defendants, Chime Ezebalike, Prince Oladele, Kenneth Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod, face a seven-count terrorist charge presented by the Inspector General of Police.
Police alleged that the defendants had in the wake of the political crisis that rocked the state last October, invaded the House of Assembly complex in a bid to frustrate an attempt to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They were equally accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, SP, Bako Agbashim and other five police informants at Ahoada community, Rivers State.
Names of police informants that were allegedly killed by the defendants, were given as Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.
However, the defendant, through their lawyer, Mr. Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, prayed the court to release them on bail pending the determination of the case against them. They argued that under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, they ought to be presumed innocent until their guilt is established.
While opposing the bail applications, police lawyer, Mr. Simon Lough, SAN, argued that the defendants did not establish exceptional circumstance to warrant their release on bail.
Police contended that the charge against the defendants contained capital offences.
In her ruling, trial judge, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon agreed with the prosecution and dismissed the defendants’ request for bail.
The court held that the defendants did not refute a claim by the prosecution that they would jump bail if released from prison custody.
It held that the 3rd defendant did not adduce any concrete evidence to establish that he was suffering from a life threatening ailment that could not be handled by the prison authorities, adding that an affidavit the defendants attached in support of their application was vague.
Consequently, it adjourned till Thursday to commence full-blown hearing of the case.
Earlier, Justice Olajuwon refused an application that two of the defendants, Ezebalike and Oladele, filed to challenge the competence of the charge.
