Posted by By Kayode Ketefe on
An Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, on Tuesday struck out the application for bail brought by the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Ajao Estate, Lagos, Emeka Ezeuko, aka Rev. King.
An Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, on Tuesday struck out the application for bail brought by the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Ajao Estate, Lagos, Emeka Ezeuko, aka Rev. King.
Oyewole held that King failed to prove any 'special and exceptional circumstances," which must be established by an applicant facing capital offences, before bail could be granted.
The court added that the interest of justice would be served in the matter, not by granting the bail, but by the accelerated hearing of the matter.
King was arraigned on September 26 before Oyewole over an alleged murder of a member of his church and attempted murder of five other members.
He faced a six-count charge of murder of Ann Uzor and attempted murder on five others, contrary to Section 316 and 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C. Vol.2 Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
The late Uzor was one of the victims King had allegedly set ablaze by pouring jerry cans of petrol on them on July 22, thereby contravening Section 338 of the Criminal Code.
The five other persons King allegedly attempted to kill are Olisa Chiejina, Onuorah Chisobah, Vivian Eseocha, Jessica Nwene and Kosisochukwu Ezenwankwo.
King had brought an application for bail dated September 22, asking Oyewole to grant him bail on the grounds that 'there were special and exceptional circumstances" justifying the grant of bail even though the offences against him were capital offences.
His lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, argued that the proof evidence filed by the prosecution could not support the offences brought against his client.
He added that this constituted exceptional circumstances. Keyamo also argued that King would not jump bail if court granted him bail because 'he is a leader of a large Christian organisation whose face is known everywhere."
He added, 'There is no way he could pass through border without somebody recognising him."
Oyewole, also on Tuesday, directed that a new medical assessment should be carried on the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, at the Radmed Diagnostic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Bamaiyi is standing trial with four other accused persons for alleged murder attempt on the publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Mr. Alex Ibru, in 1996.
Others are the Chief Security Officer to the late Head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha; former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. James Danbaba; former Military Administrator of Zamfara State, Col. Jubrin Aminu; and a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Rabo Lawal.