Justice Halilu of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama has granted bail to Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.`
Dino Melaye who was absent during the ruling is currently being held in police custody since his arrest on January 4, 2019, at his residence in Abuja.
The senator through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, had filed an originating motion on Monday, January 14, 2019, seeking several reliefs including an order admitting him to bail on grounds of ill health, pending when he will be arraigned by the police.
Read also: Breaking: Nigerian govt to grill Atiku after U.S. trip says Lai Mohammed Justice Halilu had ordered the police to come before the court and show cause why the senator should not be granted bail.
Delivering his ruling, Halilu said ” even though there is no formal charge before me by the respondent to enable me consider the proof of evidence as a guide for me to look at the possibility of granting this application and attaching conditions, I can’t turn a blind eye to the charge attached as exhibit to the counter affidavits by the respondent.
“I’m therefore under an obligation to ensure that the defendant returns back to this court to stand trial.”
The judge was of the view that the Senator must be healthy to stand trial.
“Now that the issue of ill health is before the court, can such an applicant now named as a defendant in the set charge be arraigned in the court of law on a stretcher or on a sick bed? I answer in the negative.
“This now brings us to the issue of ensuring that he is healthy to be able to face the charges.
Therefore, after a calm understanding of the said application for bail and in view of the fact that it is my discretion that is meant to be exercised here, I am inclined to exercise my discretion in favour of the applicant in view of the reasons given.”
The terms and conditions for bail state that Melaye must provide three sureties, two of which must be resident in Abuja with evidence of ownership of properties within the capital city, the third surety must be a Clark of the national assembly who must write a letter of undertaken to produce the said applicant whenever he is required in court.
-Advertisements –
