Lloyd, a member representing Emuoha Local Government Area, is slammed with a six-count charge of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, intention to cause grievous harm, assault occasioning harm, causing grievous harm and malicious damage (of government property), following the July 9 fracas at the legislative house.
Nyordee granted him bail with N10 million, and three sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Port Harcourt.
Two of the sureties, the judge said, must own landed property in Port Harcourt. The other must be a civil servant not lower than grade level 16, and must be confirmed by the head of the state’s civil service.
The residential addresses of the sureties must be verified by the senior registrar of the court before he (Lloyd) would be allowed to go home. The accused person was shortly sent back to prison custody, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
There were reports that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives were at the court to re-arrest Lloyd.
Youths and Lloyds’ supporters flooded the court as the rumour went round the High Court complex after the sitting.
But an EFCC official in Port Harcourt office denied knowledge of plans to arrest Lloyd. “I don’t know what you are talking about. As you can see, I am answering you from the office. I was not at the court and I don’t know what you mean,” he said.
This is the second time in three days that the embattled lawmaker has been granted bail.
A State Divisional High Court in Ahoada East Local Government Area, presided over by Justice Charles Wali on Monday, granted him bail in the sum of N5million and one surety in like sum.
The surety, the Judge said, must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Mr. Justice Wali ordered that Lloyd be released from detention with immediate effect, and that he should surrender the photocopy of his international passport to the Court registrar.
He also made an order of injunction restraining the police from further arresting and detaining him, pending the determination of his substantive suit.
Mr. Justice Wali’s order, however, did not hold water as the police refused to let him go on Tuesday, but chose to produce him before Justice Nyordee (amidst heavy security), who ordered him remanded in prison custody till yesterday.
Lloyd went to the court to enforce his fundamental human rights, having been detained by the police for over two weeks and the fact that his health condition was failing. He accused the police of torturing him and infringing on his rights. He sued them for N50 billion damages in the same court.
Lloyd was scheduled to appear before Mr. Justice Nyordee on Tuesday for his formal arraignment and plea in the six-count charge against him before Justice Wali granted him bail.
The lawmaker pleaded not guilty to the charges. His bail application was moved by Nwofor and the court adjourned for ruling.
The prosecution now led by the Attorney-General (A-G) and Commissioner for Justice Worgu Boms, had after taking over the prosecution from the police, applied for the withdrawal and striking out of the Police counter affidavit filed in respect of the motion for bail. His request was granted. He did not raise any objection against the bail application, and have nothing before the court against the move.
In his ruling, Justice Nyordee, held that the essence of bail was to grant temporary freedom to an accused person in a criminal trial to enable him prepare for his defence.
He upheld the arguments of the defence lawyer Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), in his motion for bail that the six-count charge contained bailable felonies.
Nwofor expressed joy that his client had finally regained freedom. He promised to facilitate the fulfilment of the conditions to enable him go home.
He, however, kicked against Lloyd surrendering his travel passport to the court and applied that the court accepts photocopy. The court insisted that he must deposit the passport.
Nwafor filed an application for dismissal of the suit, which the court adjourned till November 21 for hearing on the motion.
Culled from The Nation newspaper
No comments:
Post a Comment