Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, May 24, 2022
AWKA, Anambra, Nigeria – An Awka Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Anambra State, presided over by Mike Anyadiegwu has granted bail to three assailants of human rights activist.
The suspects, Emmanuel Nwalusi, Collins Chinedu Ozojiofor, Emmanuel Okechukwu and others at large where arraigned on one-count charge of conspiracy to commit an assault. They were alleged to have assaulted a human rights activist, the Convener of Recover Nigeria Project, one Comrade Osita Obi in the State.
According to the charge, the accused unlawfully assaulted Osita Obi by beating him with sticks and stones all over his body which caused him bodily harm to his eyes and head.
After reading the charge to the accused, they pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail following application from defence lawyer, Prof. M.N. Umenweke. The matter has been adjourned for hearing till July 26th, 2nd and 9th August 2022 for hearing.
In his ruling, Anyadiegwu granted them bail in the sum of N400, 000 each with one surety each in the like sum. He added that each of the sureties must produce two recent passport photographs and must be a civil servant above level eight.
He also said the sureties must provide identification letters from their employers. However, comrade Obi said that he was disappointed by the charge the police brought against the accused who nearly killed him because he was asking for a better Anambra State.
According to him, the police had told him that the suspects would be charged with attempted murder but regrettably, they came up with a loose charge of beating with sticks and stones.
“I was beaten to a coma by these men. All over my body was swollen. I thanked God that people called in the police to rescue me, if not, these people would have killed me.
“ My only crime was gathering motorcycle operators to thank the governor for stopping these people from extorting money from them in the name of revenue collection. They had planned to kill me because they believed I am stopping their business ” he said.