The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has granted the bail
application filed by the detained National Commandant of Peace Corps of
Nigeria, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh.
Dickson Akoh had, through his Counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), filed a bail
application, backed by 18-paragraph affidavit, on Monday, 20th March,
2017, urging that he be released from the Police cell.
The Peace Corps boss was detained on 19th March, at the facility
belonging to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja, shortly after
he turned himself in, having been told that the Police was looking for
him.
Having been detained for 11 days, he was arraigned on Wednesday, with
a 90-count charge, bordering on extortion of money, operating an outlaw
organisation and wearing of Peace Corps uniform.
While leading a debate on the motion in support of the bail
application, Barr. John Ochogwu of Kanu Agabi Chambers, urged the court,
to grant Akoh bail on self recognition, adding that, the defendant had
earlier been granted an administrative bail by the Police.
The Counsel to the Police, A.K Aliyu, argued through his counter
affidavit that, “the 1st defendant would likely interfere with the
witnesses, if granted bail.”
In his ruling, the trial Judge, J.T. Tsoho said, “since the
defendants have been loaded with 90-count charge, which there is no
capital offence therein, bail is in the discretion of the court.”
On the fear that the defendant would likely interfere with the
witnesses, the Judge held that, “since the prosecution couldn’t advance
reasons to show that, the defendant jumped the administrative granted
him by the Police,” there was no reason for alarm.
The court therefore, granted Akoh bail, to the tune of N10m with a surety in the sum of N20m.
He was, however, asked to deposit his travel documents to the Deputy
Court Registrar (DCR) and shall have access to them upon request,
through application.
The court also requested that the surety must be an owner of a landed
property in Abuja, the title documents should also be deposited with
the DCR of the court.
He is to be remanded until the bail conditions are met, even as the
Judge warned against holding him longer than 24 hours if his bail
conditions are met.