A Magistrate Court in Imo State on Monday granted bail of N5 million each totalling N70 million to the 14 aides of the former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okrocha.
This was after a mild drama ensued at the Court as one of the 14 suspects, Darlington Ibekwe, being arraigned for breaking into the sealed estate of the former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha slumped inside the courtroom.
READ ALSO: Police in Imo arraign Okorocha’s 14 aides before Magistrate Court
Ibekwe and 13 other aides of Senator Okorocha, were accused of conspiring among themselves to disobey a lawful order issued by the state by removing the seal of the state government and entering into the sealed premises of Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartments belonging to Okorocha.
Police prosecutor, Omo-Osagie M. A told the court that Okorocha’s former appointees, Lasbery Okaforanyanwu, Ijeoma Igboanusi and his sons-in-law, Uche Nwosu and Dr Uzoma Anwuka, were at large.
While Ibekwe was also accused of publishing a recorded defamatory matter on social media with the intent to injure the reputation of the state government and the person of Governor Hope Uzodimma by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage his reputation, Olu Chizoba was charged with unlawful possession of double-barrel pump action gun without a license.
After a six-count charge was read to the suspects, council to the defendants, Eddy Onyema, sought their bail, assuring that they would return to the court to take their trial.
Onyema noted that none of the charges against the defendants was a capital offence, said, “worst, some of them are a felony. That’s why we’re seeking their bail”.
When the Magistrate, B. U. Adikaibe, returned to the courtroom for her ruling, a suspect, Ibekwe, slumped.
He was, however, revived by his fellow suspects, who pleaded for water with which he was revived.
After the incident, the court without delay gave its ruling by granting all the 14 accused person bail with N5 million each totalling N70 million, a condition the court said must be fulfilled before they would regain their freedom.
Those arraigned with Ibekwe included Obasi Goodluck, Nwaiwu Ndubuisi, Median Ijeoma, Obor Victor, Ucheka Claudin, Sunday Chisom and Ekpendu Peace.
Others were Nev F. Raphael, Basil Mba, Steve Asimobi, Ebere Nwokeji, Eberendu Chimechifulam and Olu Chizoba.
