The Federal High Court has faulted reports one of its judges handling the case involving the detained 12 associates of the Yoruba nation’s advocate, Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho), Justice Obiora Egwuatu has avoided signing their release warrant.
Some media reports had indicated that the judge, who earlier granted the detainees bail, has suddenly become unavailable to sign their release warrant after the detainees met the bail conditions.
In a statement on Tuesday, the court faulted the lawyer to the affected Igboho’s associates for failing to approach the available vacation judge on learning that Justice Egwuatu was not immediately available.
Parts of the statement read: “It should be stated that Hon. Justice A.R. Mohammed has been on ground, attending to matters at the court, but lawyers to the applicants unfortunately did not take the bail bonds for the judge to sign.
“The general public should please, disregard the insinuations in the publications as there is no reason for a judge, who granted bail to the applicants to disappear after the bail has been perfected.
“Journalists are hereby advised to always reach the court to cross check their facts before publication rather than taking sides with a party or a lawyer in a matter.”
Justice Egwuatu had, in a ruling on August 4, granted bail to eight of them, whose bail application was not challenged by the DSS, at N5million each.
The judge granted bail, at N10million each, to the other four, whose application was challenged by the DSS.
They are Babatunde, Tajudeen, Shittu and Oyetunji, who Awo claimed needed to be further investigated in relation to allegation of arms stockpile by Igboho.
Those who got N5m bail are; Abdulateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.
The judge ordered each of the detainees to produce two sureties, one of whom must be an employee of the Federal Government from Grade Level 12 above.
According to the judge, the sureties must be resident in Abuja, must have landed property must and must swear to an affidavit of means, in addition to providing evidence of three years tax payment.
The judge also ordered that the title documents of the said property must be verified by the court’s Registrar and the DSS.
Justice Egwuatu added that the four, granted N10m bail, are to report to the DSS on the first Monday of every month for the next three months.
The judge said they should remain in the custody of the DSS until they are able to meet the bail conditions.
Their lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi was quoted to have said his clients met the bail conditions last week, but were still being held because the judge suddenly became unavailable to sign the release warrant.
