April 2 for hearing in the criminal case brought against Nigerian
boxer, Bash Ali, and four other accused persons.
Meanwhile Bash Ali has refused to leave jail despite meeting bail conditions.
The four others are Gabriel Ikyowe; Timothy Ugbede; Daniel Otoski and
Jones Ebele.
They were arraigned by the police on Feb. 19 on a six-count charge of
joint act of abetment, criminal trespass, and obstruction in public
way.
They were also charge with criminal trespass, causing obstruction in
public way, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation.
The prosecuting police officer, Sgt. Bulus Samuel said the charges
contravened the provisions of sections 79, 85, 348, 194, 256, and
397(b) of the Penal Code
When case was first mentioned on Feb. 19, all the accused persons
pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate subsequently granted them bail in the sum of N1 million
each with one surety each who must be a civil servant not below salary
GL 10.
According to the Magistrate, the sureties must be reliable, resident
within the court jurisdiction and must swear an affidavit to
substantiate reliable means of livelihood.
Bello adjourned the matter for hearing to March 4, adding the
sureties, who must be civil servants, must produce their first
appointment letter and their last promotion letter.
At the resumption of hearing on Wednesday, the Principal Witness 1, Mr
Bisong Peter, told the court that he and some of NEXIM Bank workers
were assaulted by the accused persons.
Peter is the Chief Security Officer to NEXIM Bank.
He said this under cross examination led by counsel to the accused
persons, Mr Anthony Agbolahan.
According to him, Ali, his colleagues and others now at large,
disrupted NEXIM Bank operations by preventing workers and customers
from entering the premises during their protest on Feb. 18.
"Ali called himself a suicide bomber and claimed that he was coming to
bomb the bank.
"As a security agent, my colleagues and I have to be on alert.
"They came on a protest carrying placard with all kinds of
inscriptions against corruption; we stopped them but they were still
able to gain entry into the premises.
"When they were disturbing and making noise, we called the police who
later came to our rescue.
"Ali had visited NEXIM Bank several times but am not aware the purpose
of his visits,'' Peter said.
He, however, said that during one of such visits, he had a meeting
with the bank's management and later left in anger".
Defence counsel, Mr Anthony Agbolahan, however asked Peter whether he
was aware that Ali and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) were
planning a boxing championship.
When the witness answered in the negative, the defence lawyer told the
court that Ali and his team visited the bank in connection with the
championship.
Agbolahan also sought from the CSO whether Ali and other attacked the
bank's Managing Director, to which the witness also answered in the
negative.
Witness also admitted that Ali had had a meeting with the management
before but that Ali left the meeting in "anger"
Senior Magistrate, Habiba Bello, having listened to the parties
adjourned the case till April 2 for continuation hearing.
--(NAN)
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