An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has admitted Hon. Ogundiran Israel, a former Chairman of Surulere North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ogbomoso to N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
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Israel was arraigned in connection with the death of one AbdulAzeez Isa in Ogbomoso during the crisis involving sacked local government chairmen and the caretaker chairmen appointed by Gov.Seyi Makinde.
Granting the bail application on Thursday, Justice Bayo Taiwo said that the respondent’s counsel did not provide cogent reasons why bail should not be granted to the applicant.
Taiwo consequently granted bail to the applicant in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
He said that each of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means stating ownership of landed property within the jurisdiction of Ibadan.
The judge also said that the applicant must deposit his international passport with the court and report at the homicide section of Iyaganku Police Station by 10 am everyday.
He warned that the bail of the applicant would be revoked if he tried to intervene in the ongoing investigation.
Earlier, the counsel to the applicant and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Niyi Akintola, had prayed the court to grant bail to his client pending his arraignment in court.
Akintola said that the applicant had been in police custody for more than 30 days without arraignment, adding that this was more than the 14 days required by law.
The counsel said that the applicant was held in police custody on holding charge which was unknown to the law.
He said that the court in special circumstances could grant bail in murder charge where there was no fact before the court to substantiate the charge.
Akintola said that all that was contained in the counter affidavit of the respondents remained hearsay.
The state counsel, Mrs Stella Olamide, opposed the application for bail and urged the court to refuse it.