Posted by By Innocent Anaba on
THE Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on a five count charge of treason on October 6, has asked the court to admit him to bail, arguing that a prima facie case has not been made against him by the federal government.
ABUJA - THE Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on a five count charge of treason on October 6, has asked the court to admit him to bail, arguing that a prima facie case has not been made against him by the federal government.
Meanwhile, government has opposed the bail application, contending that it would be prejudicial to national security, if Dokubo is granted bail.
Dokubo in 6 paragraph affidavit in support of the bail application averred that he 'was invited by the Rivers State Police commission on September 15, 2005 and on getting there, he was asked if he knew anything of plans to blow up installations over the arrest of Bayelsa Governor which he answered in the negative".
According to the averment, 'Dokubo was then told he was needed at Abuja, which was why he was whisked through the back gate of the police command and from that September 19, he was kept in detention until has was arraigned in October 6 of a five count charge".
The affidavit further averred that 'Dokubo has no criminal record and has never been tried for any offence and if granted bail, will not commit any similar offence or any other at all, again that he will not impede any further investigation and will not jump bail, but will make himself available for trial, if admitted to bail".
According to the averment, 'the accused is worthy enough to be granted bail in self recognisance and alternatively can provide credible sureties for his bail, more so, that there is no prima facie evidence that the accused has committed the offence for which he is charged and that it is in the interest of justice to grant the bail application".
Government in a counter-affidavit is however opposing the bail application, contending that 'Dokubo, if granted bail, the prosecution of the charge against him will be at risk and that it will be prejudicial to national security".
According to government, 'most other suspects are still at large, the available evidence against the accused so far is over-whelming, and he is a militant leader of a dangerous, armed and unlawful society, called the Niger Delta Volunteer Force and if granted bail, the accused will commit similar offence, interfere with investigation of the case and not make himself available for trial and that after the arrest of the accused, his statement was obtained wherein he confessed to the commission of the crimes"
According to the counter-affidavit, 'the accused person is healthy and is being taken care of by the state as was seen from his entire appearance when he was arraigned before the court and prosecution will do all in its power to ensure that a very speedy trial of the substantive case".
Meanwhile, hearing on the bail application has been fixed for November 10, 2005