12 Of 15 Suspected Invaders Of Justice Odili’s Home Granted N5 Million Bail

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted 12 out of the 15 suspects linked to the invasion of the residence of the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, to a bail in the sum of N5 million each.

​​​​Justice Nkeonye Maha granted them bail after counsel to the 12 defendants moved the motions which was unopposed by the prosecution lawyer, Mathew Omosun.

The judge, who ordered that the defendants must produce two sureties each, directed that the two sureties for each of the defendants must be responsible citizens, and one of them must possess a landed property in Abuja with verified certificate of occupancy.

She ruled that the second surety must be gainfully employed in Abuja, having paid his or her tax dues for three years.

She said the documents of the landed property should be submitted to the registry of the court.

The judge, who ordered that the defendants must submit their international passports to the registry, directed that all the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the perfection of their bail terms.

The judge noted that though the prosecution did not oppose the applications, this did not preclude the court from looking at the merit of the matter based on a Supreme Court decision.
 
She said she, however, granted the bail plea on the ground that the applications were unchallenged and based on the evidence before the court.

Justice Maha, however, refused to grant bail to the 11th (ASP Mohammed Yahaya), 14th (Abdullahi Adamu) and 15th (Abdullahi Usman) defendants on the grounds that they had no bail application before the court.

Maha, who ordered that the three defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until the next adjourned date, fixed January 17 and January 18, 2022, for trial commencement. 

While counsel to the 11th defendant, Usman Jubrin, and  lawyer to the 15th defendant (Abdullahi Usman), moved oral applications for bail, the 14th defendant did not have legal representation in court.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Police Force, had produced 15 suspected invaders of Justice Mary Odili's home before Justice Maha for arraignment on 18-counts bordering on forgery, criminal trespass, intimidation, extortion, among others.