A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted bail to a legal practitioner, Emperor Ogbonna said to have been detained the Department of State Service (DSS) since March this year.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted bail to Ogbonna while ruling on a motion for bail filed and argued on his behalf by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
Ozekhome, while arguing the motion, said his client had been held unlawfully by the DSS since March 24, 2020.
He added that his client was being held for allegedly criticising certain policies of President Muhammadu Buhari and his conclusion that citizens may revolt due to the harsh living conditions in the country unless the Federal Government provides remedy.
Ozekhome prayed the court to grant the detained lawyer bail on liberal terms.
He argued that the detainee’s fundamental rights have been brutally breached with the six months detention.
Ozekhome urged the court to invoke constitutional provisions which presume the applicant innocent until proven otherwise, so as to allow him go on bail.
Responding, DSS’ lawyer, Isah Abubakar, opposed the request bail on the grounds that the applicant would escape justice in view of the gravity of his alleged offence.
Ruling, Justice Taiwo, agreed with Ozekhome that the law presumed the applicant innocent until found guilty by a competent court.
The judge noted that the fundamental rights of the applicant to freedom of liberty had been breached with his detention for more than the period prescribed by law.
He proceeded to grant bail to Ogbonna at N2million with two sureties in the same sum.
The judge therefore admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
He said the sureties must provide evidence of tax payment and that one of them must have property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with verifiable documents.
Justice Taiwo ordered that Ogbonna be remanded in prison custody pending when he meets the bail terms.
