Court Grant Suspects Bail For Inversion, Destructions Of Vehicles, Houses At Iyiowa Odekpe
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
Atani Chief Magistrate Court in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, presided over by Chief Magistrate , I. O. Chidebere, has granted bail to two persons detained in connection with November 7, 2023, inversion, destruction of several millions of naira property belonging to the Landlords of Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State.
The Police from Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State, had brought the suspects Okechukwu Mmionwu and Obumselu Emeka for a motion exparte to allow them detain the suspects.
But the defence counseling Nwafili Okwuosa, opposed it, arguing that the suspects did not commit the offence they were being held.
He also contended that the Police have no powers to detain the suspects beyond 24. hours but they have been detained for almost 14 days..
The defence lawyer urged the presiding Magistrate to grant his clients bail in most liberal terms, alleging that some of the charges by the police prosecutor were contradictory, just as he tendered video showing that the victim during the incident is still alive.
They Police prosecutor said the suspects were being held for attempted murder, malicious damage and wants an order of the court to remand them pending the recommendations of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The Police Prosecutor, Edmund Akwali, further said one of the charges against the suspects was attempted murder with the victim currently laying critically ill in the hospital and if the suspects were granted bail, what would happen if he died in the process.
He also presented Newspaper publication, video and pictures of the incident.
But the Magistrate granted the suspects bail with the sum of N200, 000 with sureties of persons who must be resident in the area.
She adjourned the matter to Match 21, 2024 but advised the legal teams of the parties to help resolve the festering crisis.
She urged the parties to sheath their swords and resolve the matter for their overall interest, noting that all stakeholders must be involved taking into cognisance of the fact that some people's propriety were destroyed.
The Magistrate allowed the leaders of Iyiowa Odekpe landlords comprising Sunday Obinze and Dr. Chukwunonso Okolie to express their grievances to have first hand information about their major grouse.
They complained of malicious damage of their property made up several cars and houses which amounts to several hundreds of millions of naira.