YORUBA NATION: Court grants bail to 12 aides of Igboho

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 12 detained aides of embattled Yoruba Nation activist and freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.

The bail applications by the detainees were granted on Wednesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who gave the order after a recess that lasted over two hours, following the submissions of the counsels on both sides.

Lawyer to the detainees, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had earlier prayed the court to admit them to unconditional bails.

Olajengbedi’s application was however, countered by counsel to the Directorate of State Services (DSS), I. Awo, who told the court that he was not opposing the bail of eight of the applicants but vehemently opposed the bail of four applicants on the ground that the DSS’ investigation has revealed their high complicity in the offence of arms stockpiling.

The DSS lawyer argued that the four aides should not be granted bail in the interest of justice and national security, adding that their investigation was currently ongoing and was not been concluded.

“The fear of the respondent is that if granted bail, they will not make themselves available for further investigation and possible prosecution,” Awo argued.

But Olajengbesi argued that the argument of the DSS was unknown to Nigerian law, and as such, all his clients should be granted bail without conditions as they had 34 days in detention without being charged to court for any offence.

He argued that their continued detention violated the provisions of the constitution and was an infringement on their fundamental human rights.

READ ALSO: DSS produces 12 Igboho’s aides in court

Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Egwuatu, granted eight of the aides whose applications were not challenged by the DSS, bail at N5m each.

The other four whose applications were challenged by the DSS were granted bail at N10m each.

As part of the bail, the judge ordered each of the detainees to produce two sureties and directed they should remain in the custody of the DSS until they are able to perfect the bail conditions.

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