TheCable

A federal high court in Abuja, on Wednesday granted Dickson Akoh, national commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, bail in the sum of N10m.

In his ruling, John Tsoho, the trial judge, said the court was inclined to grant the bail to the applicant because the alleged offences were not capital in nature.

The court said the submission of the complainant that the applicant might influence or interfere with police investigation, “is speculative and mere apprehension”.

The judge ordered the defendant to produce one surety in the sum of N20 million as part of the bail condition.

The surety shall be resident in Abuja and must be an owner of a landed property in Abuja, adding that the surety must tender photocopies of title deeds of the property to the deputy chief registrar ( (DCR), litigation of the court.

Tsoho also said the surety was required to submit his residential address which must be verified by the DCR.

Also as part of the bail conditions, Tsoho ordered that Akor should deposit his international passport with the court and can apply to the court whenever he wants to make use of it during the cause of his trial.

He further directed Akor and the surety to deposit two copies of their recent passport photographs.

The federal government arraigned Dickson Akor, alongside incorporated trustees of the corps, on a 90-count criminal charge bordering on conversion of money directly derived from extortion to the tune of about N1.4 billion.

The defendants in the court action are Police, IGP, national security adviser (NSA), DSS, DG-DSS and the AGF who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the defence counsel John Ochogwu, urged the court to grant Akoh bail on self-recognition, adding that the defendant had earlier been granted an administrative bail by the police.

Ochogwu added that in the counter affidavit, the prosecution did not oppose the application of bail of the defendant adding, “we urge the court to grant him bail as we are ready to go on with the trial”.

Aminu Alilu, counsel to the police, argued through his counter affidavit that Akor (1st defendant) would likely interfere with the witnesses, if granted bail.

The judge adjourned until May 23 for commencement of trial.