After 18 days of detention at the Owerri Prison, Precious Efurueze, the 13-year-old boy accused of attempting to kill former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, by pelting their campaign convoy with sachet water, has finally regained freedom. Master Efurueze and 18 other accused persons were granted bail by an Imo State High Court yesterday after two earlier appearances in court. Nelson Ezerioha, the defence counsel, told the court yesterday that most of the principles favouring the granting of bail to an accused are in favour of the applicants.
However, when Mr. Ezerioha explained that the charges are politically motivated, the judge reprimanded him and asked him to stick to the facts of the case and desist from whipping up political sentiments.
In her argument, the prosecution counsel, Nnenna Lelenwa, argued that the accused persons might jump bail due to the severity of the punishment attached to the crime they were accused of, if found guilty. However, when the presiding judge, who is also the Chief Justice of the state, Benjamin Njemanze, asked Mrs. Lelenwa how granting the applicant’s bail would affect the case of the prosecution, she was unable to give any reason.
The presiding judge also faulted the second count of the charge brought against the defendants, which among other things, stated that the applicants “unlawfully attempted to kill the governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim.” The judge ruled this charge failed to show how the applicant intended to do so.
In his ruling, Mr. Njemanze reiterated the argument of the applicant counsel that the offences are bailable, while stating that bail admitted to an accused is a basic right. He further explained that bail is not to be withheld merely as punishment.
He, therefore, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000.00 and a surety with like sum. He explained that the surety most be a resident of Imo State.
Intrigue-plagued
The case has been plagued by political intrigues since its initial hearing at a Chief Magistrate Court in Owerri.
Vitoria Isiguzo, the presiding magistrate who is also the wife to the special senior adviser to the deputy governor of Imo State on special duties, Chibututu Isiguzo, had denied the applicants bail, citing the severity of the charges against them.
After the applicants filed a fresh application for bail at the state High Court, the initial judge the case was assigned to, Ngozi Opkara, withdrew, saying he was threatened by unknown persons that he and members of his family would be abducted if he granted bail to the suspects.
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