Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has struck out a motion filed by the Department of State Service, DSS, seeking further detention of four out of 12 associates of the Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho.
The motion was thrown out by the Judge on Tuesday, following its dramatic withdrawal by counsel to DSS, Idowu Awo.
At the hearing, the DSS lawyer announced his decision not to go ahead with the matter to the court.
The counsel informed the court that he had filed a notice of appeal against the bail granted to the four out of the 12 detainees and that he would prefer to pursue the appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently struck out the motion, following the no objection by the detainees lawyer, Sunday Adebayo.
The counsel to the detainees however said the release order for other eight respondents had been signed by the court and that he was in the process of perfecting their release.
Justice Egwuatu had earlier granted bail to 12 of Igboho’s associates held in custody since July 2, 2021.
Judge signs release order of Igboho’s associates after 53 days in DSS custody
The court in it earlier judgement held that there was no charge against the applicants. It however admitted four of the applicant’s bail in the sum of 10-million-naira each with two sureties in like sum, while the remaining eight were granted bail in the sum of five-million-naira with one surety each.
The four applicants, who were granted 10-million bail are Amudat Babatunde popularly known as AKA Lady K, Okoyemi Tajudeen, Abideen Shittu, and Awhoamiu Oyetunji.
The others are Abdulateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.
The court also held that one of the sureties must be an employee of the federal government at grade level 12 and above. The sureties who are also expected to be residents of Abuja with properties must equally swear to an affidavit of means.
The judge also ordered that residents’ deeds of the said property must be verified by the court registrar and the DSS in addition to evidence of three years of tax payment.
The sureties are also to submit all travel documents to the court.
Meanwhile, the four applicants were also ordered to report to the DSS on the first Monday of every month for the next three months.