Court orders release of A/Ibom ACN guber candidate

Details: Category: April 2011 Polls; Published on Thursday, 07 April 2011 10:28; Written by Daily Trust; Hits: 2214

Justice Adamu Bello of an Abuja Federal High Court yesterday made a mandatory order directing the unconditional release of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, John James Akpanudoedehe from police custody.

Granting the motion exparte filed by counsel to Akpanudoedehe, Kola Awodein (SAN), Justice Bello also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim and prosecution in the matter to give effect to the order of the court made on March 30, 2011 admitting the ACN candidate to bail pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.

Awodein told the court that his client was molested and abducted from the court room by police officers on the instruction of the Federal Government (mentioned as respondent in the exparte) on March 31, while he was waiting to perfect his bail conditions.

He told the court that his client’s health is in jeopardy as he has been denied medication and proper medical attention for his health conditions of polyuria, hypertension, polybypsia and blurring vision.

Akpanudoedehe, who is being accused of masterminding the mayhem which occurred last month in Akwa Ibom State, claiming four lives and leading to the destruction of several hundreds of cars worth over N2 billion, has since pleaded not guilty to the four count charge of treason and felony.

He was granted bail by the court in the sum of one million naira with one surety who should be a responsible citizen resident in Abuja and must own landed property in Abuja worth the bail sum.

The court had also said he should be remanded in prison custody if he is unable to meet his bail conditions.