By Alphonsus Nweze, 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 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 order to allow them remand the suspects pending the advise from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and other orders as the court might seem fit.
But the defence counsel, Nwafili Okwuosa, opposed the exparte motion, 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 defence were contradictory.
He said that the Police said the suspects were being held for attempted and wanted an order of the court to remand them pending the recommendations of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The Police Prosecutor, Edmund Akwali, said one of the charges against the suspects was attempted murder with the victim currently in the hospital and if the suspects were granted bail, what would happen if he died in the process.
But the Magistrate granted the suspects bail with the sum of N200, 000 with sureties with means who must be resident in the area.
She adjourned the matter to March 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 resolved the matter for their overall interest, noting that all stakeholders must be involved including the traditional ruler of Odekpe community and the President General, 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. Nonso to state their view in which they expressed their grievances against Odekpe people over their oppressive and extortist practices to allow Court have first hand information about their grouse.
They complained of malicious damage of their property made up several cars and houses which amount to several hundreds of millions of naira as well as being forced to pay multiple levies to the community.
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