The Federal High Court in Abuja faced a setback in ruling on the bail applications of five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, who are charged with terrorism offenses. The absence of the defendants – Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod – along with their legal representatives, hindered the proceedings.
None of the accused or their counsels were present in court when their case was called. This prompted Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon to postpone the ruling until the defendants could be brought before the court by officials from Kuje Prison in Abuja. The judge had initially scheduled today for delivering the decision on their bail applications.
At present, the court is still waiting for the defendants to appear. Previously, the judge heard arguments from the police lawyers, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Simon Lough, and Lukman Fagbemi SAN, who represented the first and second defendants among others.
In the meantime, Justice Olajuwon directed that the five defendants be returned to Kuje Prison in Abuja pending the court’s decision on whether to grant them bail or not.
