A Magistrate Court sitting in Karu, Abuja, has granted bail to five loyalists of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, amid an ongoing leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
FCT Police Commissioner is the complainant in the lawsuit against the five persons who have been remanded at the correctional centre since Monday, according to their lawyer. Their crimes border on alleged criminal trespass, theft, inciting public disturbance and mischief.
The five persons are the FCT SDP chairman, Nuradeen Bisala and Humphrey Onwukaeze his deputy; national youth leader, Eluwa Henry; national legal adviser, Solsuema Osaro and National Secretary, Ekpenyong Ambo, who is also a former Cross River SDP chairman.
In arguing for their bail, the counsel for the defendants, Ubong Akpan, told the court that his clients applied for a police permit to go to the SDP Secretariat located on 17 Nairobi Street, Wuse 2 Abuja. The permit was granted, he said.
He therefore expressed outrage that the same police that gave his clients clearance will still accuse them of trespass for acting on its permit.
In his ruling, Magistrate Bala Ndajowa, described the defendants as law-abiding citizens having sought police approval to head to the SDP Secretariat. He further added that the police had placed nothing before the Court to warrant their being denied bail.
He thereby admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2 million each, with one surety who must be a resident of the FCT with a credible means of livelihood.
Meanwhile, 11 August has been scheduled for hearing on the matter.
Godfrey Eshiemoghie
Follow us on:
