WARRI—A WARRI Magistrate Court in Delta State, weekend, granted a Warri-based lawyer, Mr. Casely Omo-Irabor, bail in the sum of N3 million, following his arraignment for alleged involvement in attempting to bribe police authorities to secure the release of an alleged kidnap kingpin in the state, Mr. Vincent Akpokona.
Also granted bail on same condition is the wife of Vincent Akpokona, Mrs. Patience Akpokona, who is standing trial alongside Omo-Irabor for attempting to assist in the release of her husband.
Trial magistrate is Mr A. Odjugho. The two accused persons were docked on a three-count charge of conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice; induced the police to release the kidnap suspect by corruptly giving the sum of N700,000 to one Inspector Samuel and attempting to assist “one Vincent Akpokona, a kidnap suspect, who is to your knowledge guilty of the offence, to escape punishment.”
Before the commencement of proceedings, Magistrate Odjugho told the court that the case had assumed a larger than life dimension because of the threats to his life, adding that at the last sitting, he was accosted by four men at the court premises close to “A” Division Police Station to name his price and hands off the case.
He said he had to shout aloud to attract the attention of the policemen, who came to his rescue and succeeded in arresting two of the men while two escaped.
After the charges were read to the accused persons and plea taken, the court ordered that the accused persons be granted bail on N1 million each with two sureties in like sum, after their counsel argued their bail applications.
SOURCE: Vanguard