The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a motion filed by the Department of the State Services (DSS) seeking further detention of four out of 12 aides of the Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Igboho.
The motion was thrown out by the trial judge, Obiora Egwuatu, yesterday, following its dramatic withdrawal by counsel to the DSS, Mr. Idowu Awo.
At the resumption of the matter when the motion was to be heard, the DSS counsel announced his decision not to go ahead with the matter.
He told the court that he had filed a notice of appeal against the bail granted four out of the 12 detainees and that he would prefer to pursue the case at the Court of Appeal.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently struck out the motion following the no objection by the detainees’ counsel, Mr. Sunday Adebayo.
Counsel to the detainees said for the other eight respondents, their release order had been signed by the court and in the process of perfection .
Justice Egwuatu had granted bail to the 12 Sunday Igboho’s associates held in custody since July 2, 2021. The court, in its earlier judgment, had held that there was no charge against the applicants.
It, however, admitted four of the applicants to 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 also two sureties each. One of the sureties, the court held, must be an employee of the Federal Government on Grade level 12 and above.
The sureties, who must be residents in Abuja and have property, must swear to an affidavit of means. The judge also ordered that residents’ deeds of the said property must be 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.
Meanwhile, the four applicants were also ordered to report to the DSS on the first Monday of every month for the next three months.
Egwuatu, in addition, had held that the four applicants should remain in the custody of the DSS pending the perfection of their bail.
