Trial judge, Justice Latan Nyordee,
in his ruling, admitted Lloyd to bail in the sum of N10million and three
sureties in like sum.
Meanwhile the Attorney General of
Rivers State, Worgu Boms, who took over prosecution from the Police on Tuesday,
hinted of plans to drag other suspects to court, if he must
continue with the prosecution.
File: L-R Emmanuel Chinda, Rivers
State Commissioner for Agriculture; Hon Chidi Lloyd embattled Leader of the
Rivers state House of Assembly and Rt Hon Ezekiel Harry, former Speaker of the
Rivers State House of Assembly all in Court during the hearing of an attempted
murder charge leveled against Hon Chidi Lloyd. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
He said: “It was inappropriate to
have Chidi Lloyd face trial alone. Other persons were involved in the crisis
provoking this trial. They have to be on trial as well. They have to be
prosecuted and I will make sure I bring them in before continuing with the
prosecution.”
Also, the Rivers State House of
Assembly, has condemned the involvement of Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, in Lloyd’s case, even, when according to it, the commission
had no business in the matter in court.
It frowned at the attitude of the
‘powers-that-be’ using every might at their disposal to deal with Lloyd
including the use of EFCC, which is not relevant to the issue.
The court, on the bail, ordered that
“Two of the sureties must own landed property within jurisdiction of the court
and one must be a civil servant on not less than Grade Level 16 and confirmed
by Head of Civil Service.”
The court also ordered that the
accused must also submit his international passport to the court, adding that
the conditions must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the court.
After the ruling, counsel to Lloyd,
Mr Beluolise Nwofor, pleaded with the court to allow the accused to surrender a
photocopy of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad to tend
to his health concerns, if need be.
The plea was, however, turned down
by Justice Nyordee, who said: “The essence of granting the bail is to give the
accused person opportunity to prepare for his defence.”
Earlier, Nwofor commended the court
for granting bail to the accused, saying “We are very happy about that.
The learned trial Judge has just ordered the authorities to release Chidi Lloyd
on bail pending his trial. It is also in keeping with the order earlier made by
Justice Wali of the state high court sitting in Ahoada, who also said he should
be released on bail.
“We now have two concurrent rulings
ordering that he be released on bail. We would take steps immediately to
fulfill the conditions for the bail so that our client would be released. We
just filed an application this morning (yesterday) for dismissal of the
information on grounds of abuse of court process. The learned judge has fixed
it for hearing, November 21.”
Meanwhile, violence almost erupted
in the court premises as the teeming youth supporters of Lloyd noticed the
accused being taken away in the Nigerian Prisons van, which had brought him to
the court.
Meanwhile, Rivers State House of
Assembly, has said that it may approach the court to waive the submission of
the accused’s international passport, among the conditions for the bail,
granted him, yesterday.
Mr David Amusa, Press Secretary to
Deputy Speaker of the House, Leyii Kwanee in a statement, shortly after the
court granted Lloyd bail , said “The House under the leadership of Otelemaba
Amachree, expresses happiness over the bail granted the Chidi Lloyd and
therefore, commends the judiciary for its support to the survival of democracy
in Nigeria.”
