Driver, 2 others granted bail for alleged conspiracy, defamation

www.odogwublog.com reports that a 27-year old driver, Ifeanyichukwu Ani and two others, Ngene Ugochukwu Daniel (59) and Gabriel Iloegbunam (50) who were arraigned before an Onitsha Magistrate Court 4 in Anambra state on a three-count charge of conspiracy, threat to maim and defamation were on Monday granted bail by the trial Magistrate, Uche Amechi.

In his ruling shortly after hearing an oral application for their bail made by the defence counsel, Amechi granted them bail in the sum of N5,000 each with one surety each in the like sum, adding that each of the sureties who must produce one passport photograph, must be resident within the Onitsha Magisterial District.

The court therefore adjourned the matter till July 12, this year for hearing, for hearing.

The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to all the charges and elected summary trial.

Counsel to Ifeanyichukwu Ani, the second accused, Dr. Tony Orunkoya, a human rights lawyer had shortly after the charges were read, made an oral application for their bail because according to him, they had no previous criminal records to warrant having fear about their bail, adding that the charges were tailored to oppress them.

Similarly, counsel to the first and third accused persons, Mellitus Chukwuma Eze, said he was aligning himself to the bail application made by Orunkoya, his learned colleague since according to him, the charges are mere bailable offences.

However, both Peter Ikebuaso, a lawyer who watched brief for the complainant and the police prosecutor, J. O. Obuchi Esq., did not raise any objection to the bail application made by the defence lawyers, hence their bail conditions were read out.

The accused persons, now on bail, according to the police prosecution had on or about February 28, 2017, within the Onitsha Magisterial District, allegedly conspired among themselves to commit misdemeanor by threatening violence.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused persons had on the same date and venue, with intent to annoy and intimidate, allegedly threatened to main or injure the complainant in this charge, one Nnaemeka Ofodile at that material time.

The prosecution also alleged that the accused persons had on the same time and venue, allegedly made a defamatory statement by spoken words against Nnaemeka Ofodile that he is a 'ritualist' in the public, which has injured his business repute and exposed him to ridicule and contempt before the right-thinking members of the public.

The offenses, the prosecution stated, were punishable under Section 495 (a), 120 (b) and 325 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra state of Nigeria, 1991, as amended.



Driver, 2 others granted bail for alleged conspiracy, defamation Driver, 2 others granted bail for alleged conspiracy, defamation Reviewed by Unknown on Monday, May 29, 2017 Rating: 5

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