An Oyo High Court in Ibadan has granted bail to 12 individuals accused of the murder of Jeffrey Akro, a student of Ajayi Crowther University. Bail was set at ₦5 million for each defendant, along with two sureties, one of whom must be a biological parent.
Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled:
“Each of the 1st-12th defendants is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties each, one of whom must be a biological parent of the applicant/defendant.”
The suspects had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge during a previous hearing. However, their oral bail application was not addressed at the time, leading to an adjournment.
Chief Victor Otomiewo, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Delta State and counsel for the prosecution, explained:
“The most important thing is the pronouncement, and what every lawyer knows is that the granting of bail is not a declaration of innocence or acquittal.
“The re-trial has been adjourned till February 21, 2025. If we are unable to resolve the matter on that date, the trial will proceed accordingly.
“With the pronouncement of the Judge and his conduct of the trial so far, everybody will go home and see that justice—real justice, not abstract justice—has been served.”
Counsel to the 7th defendant, Barrister Wole Efunnuga, added:
“The trial Judge did not just come up granting bail; there are precedent conditions.
“The Judge looked at the issue holistically, and he made it a point of duty to seek the opinion of the prosecution counsel to ask if the decision is of the counsel.
“My learned counsel used his discretion, and the ruling represented the views of all the parties involved.”
The trial is set to continue on February 21, 2025, as the court seeks to ensure a fair and just resolution to the case.
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