COURT GRANTS BAIL TO EBONYI ANPP CHIEFTAINS, OTHERS

BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI-A Magistrate's court sitting in Abakaliki, yesterday, granted bail to chairman of the state's All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Emerike Orji, and five others who were charged for seditious publication against Ebonyi State government.

According to the court, the accused persons committed the offence against the office of Ebonyi State Chief Judge, Chief Alloy Nwankwo, who in the publication was accused of allegedly collecting

money on behalf of the state government to bribe the tribunal judges in the state.

Others granted bail were the ANPP State Secretary, Chief Ifeanyi Onu, Publisher of Voice Newspapers, Chief Imo Eze, Commissioner of Oaths at the State High Court, Celestine Chukwu, and staff of the state Judiciary, John Nwafor and Mrs Christiana Chukwu.

The accused persons were earlier arraigned on Wednesday but the case was adjourned to yesterday, so the charges against them could be read out properly.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding Magistrate, Mr Job Orude, granted the accused persons bail with the sum of N200, 000 each, with the shortees submitting two passport photographs and resident within the jurisdiction of the court

and adjourned the case to Dec.12, 2011 for further hearing which included publishing that the sum of N1.515 billion was raised by the state government to, through the chief judge, bribe Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal judges to favour the PDP, among other allegations.

Counsel to the accused persons prayed the court to grant them bail, as they had shown sincerity in abiding with the bail terms.

Presiding Magistrate, Mr Job Orude, granted the accused persons bail with the sum of N200, 000 each, with the shortees submitting two passport photographs and resident within the jurisdiction of the court

and adjourned the case to Dec.12, 2011 for further hearing.