A Benin High Court on Thursday adjourned the ruling on bail application of Iyatsere of Warri, Johnson Atseleghe, 63, slated for Aug. 25.
The court had initially adjourned till Sept. 14 to rule on the bail application.
Atseleghe is the Iyatsere of Warri and leader of Itsekiri in oil-rich Ologbo community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
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The defendant and 11 others are being tried on a count-charge bothering on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaigele of Kolokolo community.
Others are: Felicia Otikpere, female, 55; Oluwa Esimije, 38; Monday Iluwa, 58; Ayokotse Robinson,54; Nosa Omoregie, 54; Mofe Samuel, 40; Magnanimous Omawumi, 40; Ayuwa More, 65, Amerete Ejiro, 25, Onyeburutan Jeffrey 25 and Benjamin Erewa, 39.
They were earlier arraigned, but pleaded not guilty.
The offence contravened Sections 516, 327 and 316 (1) punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Act , Cap C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 2 (2) and punishable under section 3 of the Kidnapping prohibition (Amendment) Law , 2013 of Edo State.
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At the resumed hearing, Counsel to
Chief Atseleghe, Mr. Bamidele Abina, in a motion, notified the court of alleged deteriorating health condition of his client.
Abina told the court that the emergency of motion for the review of an earlier pending motion for the bail application for his client became necessary due to the failing health of his client.
Abina who backed his claims with a medical report, indicated that his client needs urgent medical attention.
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He, however, informed the court that chief Atseleghe would be available whenever he is needed in court.
He prayed the court that the steps taken so far in securing the bail application for his client falls within the purview of the law.
On his part, the state counsel to late Etchie’s family in the proceedings, Matthew Edaghese, said the bail application amounted to abuse of court process as the motion lacks merit.
Edaghese informed the court that it is not applicable for a person standing trial in Edo to tender a medical report issued in a hospital.
He urged the court to strike out the motion and wait for original date of September 14, for which ruling has been reserved.
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The Presiding Judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, however adjourned ruling on the motion to August 25, 2020.