Abakiliki Court Denise OYC President, Igboayaka bail, Adjourns hearing
In a shocking twist of fate, the Magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, denied bail to Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of the Ohaneze Youth Council, on Wednesday, February 28, 2025.
This is even as the court adjourned hearing on a bail application for the release of the detained national president of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Mr Igboayaka Igboayaka to March 12, 2025.
This decision comes after weeks of abduction and detention, allegedly orchestrated by the Ebonyi state government led by Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru.
Famousreporters.com reports that Igboayaka, the embattled OYC leader was arrested in Owerri on February 8 by operatives of Anti Kidnapping Unit, Ebonyi Police Command after winning reelection for a second term as the president of the Ohanaeze Youth Council in a delegate election held in Owerri, Imo state.
He was subsequently brought down to Abakaliki where he was detained by the police.
Thereafter, Igboayaka was later arraigned on February 12 at the Abakaliki magistrate court 2 on a felony in suit ‘Charge No. MAB 71/2025’ and was remanded at the Abakaliki Medium Custodial Centre.
The Magistrate, Mrs Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe, ruling on the bail application brought by the defence counsel, Mr Obinna Ekeke said that the accused was appearing before the court for the first time after being arraigned and remanded on February 12.
Ekeke, however, argued that the bail application was made consequent on the deteriorating health condition of the accused and appealed to the magistrate to grant the request in the interest of justice.
“If not for the health condition of the accused, we won’t stress ourselves; and it won’t tell us any good, the society, the interest of justice if this young man’s life is lost because of this case.
“This is my first time of appearing before this honourable court and this application for bail bears a mark of the Supreme Court which has made a clear position on this.
“But, if the court is minded to flow with the mind of the court; but, the law which I have here, I strongly believe that this court has jurisdiction to allow bail even without application,” Ekeke said.
However, ruling on the application, the magistrate noted that the matter was coming up for the first time for hearing after the suspect was remanded after his arraignment.
She said: “This is the first time this matter is coming up after the remand; you also know that you can make this application at the High Court , so if by the next adjournment and the law says 14 days, you can apply for bail especially if it’s not a capital offence.
“Therefore , the matter is hereby further adjourned to March 12 for compliance,” the Magistrate ruled.
Our correspondent reports that the prosecution counsel was absent in court.
Igboayaka ’42’ alongside others now at large is facing three count charge on alleged conspiracy to commit felony and accusations of causing extreme fear to the people of Amegu Nkalagha community in Ishielu Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, according to eyewitnesses, the presiding magistrate, S.N. Ifeanyi Oyibe, who later on agreed to having the power to grant Igboayaka bail, as applied by his legal counsel, had earlier on, admitted that she lacked jurisdiction to entertain Igboayaka’s case.
However, she later confirmed that she had the power to grant him bail, as applied by Igboayaka’s legal counsel, but regrettably, the bail was denied, and the case was adjourned until March 12, 2025.
