The Federal High Court, Abakaliki division, Friday, adjourned to November 22, 2022, to hear the bail application filed by the detained Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Linus Okorie.
Okorie, a former Federal lawmaker is facing a seven-count charge bordering on murder and advance fee fraud levied against him by the State government, in what is seen as being politically motivated.
The presiding judge, Justice Fatun Rilman gave the date after listening to both Counsels for the applicant and the respondents.
Okorie’s lawyer, Michael Odo had in the motion, prayed the Court to grant his client bail on health grounds.
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Odo argued that there is an urgency to hear the bail application as the health condition of the accused was getting worse and needed proper medical attention.
But, the Counsel to the respondents, Roy Umahi opposed the hearing of the bail application, on grounds that the motion was not ripe for hearing, as he only received the processes earlier in the day.
Justice Rilman after listing to the arguments, therefore, adjourned the case to November 22, 2022, for the hearing of the motion for bail.
The hearing of the case was earlier scheduled to commence last Wednesday but was adjourned to Friday over similar reasons.
ait.live Correspondent in Abakaliki observed that the Court premises witnessed unusually heavy security presence as there were reports that the vehicle of the Nigerian Correctional Service, conveying the accused, Linus Okorie after last Wednesday’s brief Court session was allegedly attacked by suspected operatives of the Ebubeagu security outfit.
Okorie, a former two-term Federal House of Representatives member and the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South District in the 2023 election, who is facing a seven-count charge bordering on murder and advance fee fraud, was remanded in the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, on the 18th of November, 2022, by a Magistrate Court in the area.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
