By Lucky Isibor
An Edo State Special Criminal Court has granted bail of ₦1 million each to Pa. Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, the nonagenarian father of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Edo South senatorial candidate, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and three other suspects facing allegations bordering on cultism, conspiracy, attempted murder and a land dispute in the sum of ₦1 million each.
The presiding judge, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu, granted the bail on Monday, 19 October after dismissing an application by the police seeking an order to remand the four suspects in correctional custody for 14 days pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The suspects, who have yet to be formally arraigned, are Jeff Erese, 43; George Osagiede, 52; Uyi Erese, 35; and Pa. Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, said to be about 90 years old.
They were brought before the court in Motion No. B/CD/S/55M/26 over allegations of cultism, conspiracy, attempted murder, forceful acquisition of land and resort to self-help.
Moving the ex parte application on behalf of the applicants, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, and the Solicitor-General of the state, Steven Okoror (Esq), urged the court to order the suspects’ remand for 14 days pending the DPP’s advice.
Okoror anchored the application on Sections 293(1) and 296(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State, 2016.
However, counsel to the suspects, Barrister Agbonmwandoloyi Osayomwanbor (Esq), opposed the application, contending that Section 295 of the state’s criminal justice law empowered the court to grant bail in the circumstances.
He argued that investigations had been concluded and that further detention of the suspects was therefore unjustified. Counsel also drew the court’s attention to the advanced age of the fourth suspect, Pa. Iduoriyekemwen and assured the court that the suspects were willing to provide responsible sureties to meet the conditions for their release.
In response, Okoror urged the court to refuse bail to the first three suspects, citing the gravity of the allegations of cultism and the possibility that they might abscond. He, however, indicated that he did not oppose the grant of bail to the fourth suspect.
In his ruling, Justice Momodu said he had carefully considered the application, the supporting affidavit, the allegations against the suspects and the submissions of counsel.
The judge held that the application lacked merit, describing the dispute as essentially a land matter and questioning the inclusion of cultism among the allegations.
Consequently, the court refused the police’s application for a 14-day remand order and admitted all four suspects to bail in the sum of ₦1 million each, with one surety each in like sum.
Justice Momodu further directed that each surety must be resident in Benin City.
The ruling followed a contest between the police’s request for further custodial detention pending prosecutorial advice and the defence’s argument that continued detention was unwarranted in the circumstances.
The suspects have yet to be formally arraigned, and the allegations against them remain unproven. The grant of bail does not amount to a determination of their guilt or innocence.