Twenty out of the 28 suspects in connection with the killing of late Idris Alkali, a retired general, have secured N1million bail.
Recall that Mr Alkali was declared missing on September 3 at Plateau state en route to Bauchi state, but was later discovered to have been killed and his remains dumped in a pond.
Justice Daniel Longji, of the Plateau State High Court 5, granted the bail to the 20 suspects whose charges ranged from hoarding information, unlawful assembly, denying soldiers the right to search for the dead body of Mr Alkali, respectively.
However, the defence counsels, Bitrus Fwansha, Okoro Obi, and George Izere, have presented separate applications and sought for an order of the court to grant them bail pending determination of the case.
Mr Fwansha said: “We urge your lordship to grant the applications, more so that the liberty of the citizens is at stake.”
However, director public prosecution, Gidilia Fomyol, opposed to the bail applications, arguing that there were abuses of court processes by the defence counsels.
“We urge the court to discountenance the bail applications and refuse the bail applications,” he averred.
Ruling on the ball applications filed by counsels to the accused, Justice Longji said that based on the charges presented against the accused by the State Prosecution, the suspects deserve to be granted bail.
Justice Longji ruled that assuming the 20 accused charged with count 3,4 and 5, we’re found guilty and convicted they would have by now finished their jail term of two months, citing sections 138, 100 and 148 of panel code, to grant them bail.
He granted the 20 accused bail with a condition of N1million each and one sortie of the status of community leader, who will swear to affidavit and identify each of the accused.
The judge said as to those 8 accused of culpable homicide, he would take time to go through the arguments canvassed for their bail and against the defence and prosecution counsels.
He said: “As for the remaining accused I have not taken time to look through the voluminous documents to be able to give the ruling.”
Justice Longji adjourned the case January 25, 2019 for ruling on the bail applications of the 8 accused of culpable homicide.
