Court grants man bail in N4m charge

Justice Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court  in Enugu on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of one million naira and two sureties to one Hillary Obetta charged with four million naira fraud.

Oghoghorie, however, ordered that Obetta should be kept in custodial centre until perfection of the bail condition.

“Bail is hereby granted. However, the defendant must be remanded in custodial centre until his bail condition is perfected.

“The bail condition includes deposit of one  million naira to the court and provision of two sureties –  one must be his brother, the other, a civil servant on or above grade level 14, whose appointment letter and other workplace evidence should be verified by the court bailiff,” the judge held.

Obetta  had pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of collecting three million naira and one million naira by false pretences of supplying 5,000 copies of conductor’s/driver’s badges and emblems.

He was also charged with presentation of a forged letter of engagement and “To Whom It May Concern” letter with  Enugu State Ministry of Transport letterheaded paper.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Victor Ozioko, had prayed the court to grant him bail.

Ozioko told the court that he had just been briefed about the matter  and needed time to prepare for defence.

“The offences mentioned are bailable; I pray my lord grants us bail on liberal terms.

“Again, my client is sick, he is a known hypertensive person,’’ he said.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr Michael Ani, said that he had perfected written addresses and brought some witnesses to the court to get accelerated hearing.

Ani said that the EFCC was not opposed to  bail for the defendant but  urged that the condition must be stringent to compel him to appear in court  when needed.

“His sureties must be known and their status verified by the court,’’ he said.

The judge adjourned the case to March 30 for accelerated hearing.