Bayelsa Senator Konbowei Gets N50m Bail

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo has granted the senator representing Bayelsa Central, Benson Konbowei, N50m bail. 

The senator was initially arraigned on Tuesday on three-count charges bordering on forgery of the National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate among others but was allowed to go home pending the ruling on his bail application fixed for Thursday. 

The counsel for the defendant, Gordy Uche (SAN) asked the court to grant his client bail, assuring the court he would not jump bail if granted one, but Prosecution Counsel Rueben Egwaba opposed the bail application for the defendant. 

 Egwaba says the defendant would interfere with his trial if granted bail.  He said, “While the charge was filed, the defendant took several steps to interfere with the matter. He also wrote a lot of petitions against me to truncate the matter. We urge my lord to refuse the application.”

Ruling on the bail application, the trial judge, Christopher Oba granted him N50m bail. He is to also provide two sureties with landed properties in the Federal Capital Territory. 

Oba said the C-of-O of the sureties must be confirmed to be authentic. The accused is however to be remanded in Kuje correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions. 

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till June 24, 25 and 27 for hearing.

 Tunji Olanipekun