By SaharaReporters, New York
Bowing to immense pressure from negative public backlash and legal luminaries defending the embattled Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming general elections, an Akwa Ibom High Court has granted Senator John Akpanudoedehe bail in the sum of N5 million and a surety with landed property in Uyo.
In the past couple of weeks, the Akwa Ibom Governor has embarked on various moves including flouting the orders of the Federal High Court on the freedom of Udoedeghe, in an effort to keep his rival behind bars and perhaps away from the governorship contest, an attitude that suggests desperation on his part, some analysts have told SaharaReporters.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Idongesit Ntemisua, in her ruling, advised the supporters of the accused to celebrate the release without violence, adding that the applicant would take responsibility for any breach of the law in that regard.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge all political parties to go about their campaigns in a peaceful manner. As you know, it is only the electorate that has the sole right of voting candidates of their choice,” she said
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, said that he would not oppose the defence’s application for bail.
“I have personally come here to assume my responsibility as the chief law officer of the state and we will like this court to use its discretion to decide on the bail which we don’t want to oppose,” he said.
He described the bail as being in “the interest of the larger society” and that the state had chosen to act “responsibly”.
Mr. Ntekim maintained that politics was not a do or die affair, adding that the approach being adopted by the state would help the country’s electoral process.
The defense counsel, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail based on self recognition as he had only been remanded in prison custody but not charged with any offence. He also pointed out that Senator Akpanudoedehe’s medical condition required urgent attention, as he had been detained in inhuman conditions.
“I am personally pleased and relieved that the learned Attorney General is not opposing this application as the effect of this will give the accused person the opportunity to breathe the air of freedom and exercise his legitimate franchise.”
SaharaReporters could not immediately ascertain if the candidate has actually regained his freedom as he was not present in court when the bail was granted late on Friday.
Only yesterday, Governor Akpabio and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, disobeyed a Federal High Court order releasing Mr. Akpanudoedehe, and continued to hold him in custody.
Previously, on April 4, the Senator was flown into Uyo in a police helicopter after he completed his bail formalities at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He had been granted bail on a spurious "treason” charge by Justice Adamu Bello but he was re-arrested moments later by the police.