A federal high court in Abuja on Friday fixed August 24, 2021, for hearing in an application filed by the Department of the State Service (DSS) seeking remand of four aides of the Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Igboho.
The four aides are part of the 12 clamped into detention since July 2 by DSS and granted bail by the court since Wednesday, August 4.
However, DSS in an application filed after the bail was granted, urged Justice Obiora Egwuatu to cancel the bail granted to Amudat Babatunde, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Oyetunji, and Bamidele Sunday.
DSS prayed the court to set aside their August 4 bail to enable it to remand them in its custody “pending their arraignment during court vacation”.
The new application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2021 was filed on August 9 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Although the court had on August 4 admitted them to bail with conditions yet to be perfected, the DSS in the fresh application is seeking to halt the bail execution.
In the application filed by its lawyer, Mr Idowu Awo, the security agency is claiming that it has not completed its investigation into the level of involvement of the four detainees in the stockpiling of arms and ammunition allegedly found in Igboho’s house.
DSS is subsequently praying Justice Obiora Egwuatu to reverse himself in the bail granted four out of the 12 detainees and permit it to remand the four detainees for further interrogation.
A hearing notice sighted by newsmen at the federal high court on Friday showed that Justice Egwuatu has fixed August 24 for DSS to argue the application.
Recall that Justice Egwuatu had on August 4 admitted the 12 applicants to various bail conditions while ruling in their applications.
The judge hinged their bail on the fact that there was no criminal charge against the 12 applicants since their arrest and detention for over a month contrary to the provisions of the law.
The four detainees got bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum, while the remaining eight were granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties each.
Those admitted to N5 million bail are; Abdulateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.
One of the sureties, the court held must be an employee of the federal government on grade level 12 and above.
The sureties must be residents in Abuja, have properties and must swear to an affidavit of means.
The judge also ordered that the title deeds of the sureties must be jointly verified by the Court registrar and the DSS in addition to evidence of three years of tax payment.
The sureties are also to submit all travel documents to the court.
Justice Egwuatu in addition held that the applicants should remain in the custody of the DSS pending the perfection of their bail.
However, since the grant of the bail, the detainees have not been able to meet some of the stringent aspects of the conditions.
Among the conditions said to be hard nuts for them to crack is the production of federal government employees above grade level 12 and others with properties in Abuja with verified title documents and three years tax reports.
At the time of this report, it was confirmed that all the 12 detainees are still in the custody of the DSS.
Counsel to the detainees, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi confirmed receipt of the August 24 hearing date for the DSS application.
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You see, how many people stood as a surety for this 1081 bandits,murderers , kidnappers and rapist that FG is seeking forgiveness for. How many millions were they made to pay? We can all see what is going on.
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