Posted by By GODWIN TSA, Abuja on
Former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court over alleged acts of terrorism in the Niger-Delta region. He was, however, released on bail on self-recognition.
• Granted bail
Former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court over alleged acts of terrorism in the Niger-Delta region. He was, however, released on bail on self-recognition.
Others arraigned with Ayu, Ayu, who is the director-general of the Atiku Campaign Organization, were the Director of Youths, Action Congress, Timi Frank, and Paul Santus Ofana, a political researcher with the AC.
Ayu, who looked calm, was driven into the court in a red Peugeot 406 saloon.
As soon as he alighted from the vehicle, he walked into the embrace of his political associates and lawyers who had thronged the court.
Wearing a blue T-shirt and a pair of blue trousers, Ayu entered the courtroom in company of his political friends, lawyers and security personnel from the State Security Services (SSS).
While waiting for the court to sit, Ayu simply told his sympathizers: 'It is the season. Everything has a season."
The other accused persons where brought to court in an ash Peugeot Export bus belonging to the SSS.
At exactly 10.50 am, Ayu was severed with a copy of the charge sheet, which he glanced through and passed over to one of his lawyers.
When the court finally sat at 11.05am, the charge sheet was called at the instance of the prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Salisu Aliyu, who informed the court that the accused persons were in court.
Consequently, counsel to the suspects moved an oral application for bail, after obtaining the leave of the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako.
Moving his oral application for bail, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), counsel to Ayu, asked the court to grant the accused bail on personal recognition as a one-time Senate president, minister of the federal republic, an astute politician and currently, the director-general, Atiku Campaign Organization.
He submitted that as a person of integrity, Ayu client would not do anything to disrupt his trial.
Counsel for the second and third accused persons, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) and Emeka Ngige (SAN), made similar applications, praying the court to grant their clients bail on the grounds that the offences they are standing trial on were bailable.
They further submitted that as accused persons their clients were presumed innocent until proved otherwise by a competent court of law.
According to Ngige, his client is an academics and a political researcher and an asthmatic patient, who should be close to his doctor and medication.
Justice Nyako, after hearing the submissions made by the defence counsel and since the director of public prosecution did not object to the bail application, granted Ayu bail on self-recognition. The other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N1.5 million with two sureties in like sum. They are also to produce a guarantor in the person of national officers of a political party and they are to submit their traveling documents before the court.
Ayu is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiring with the other accused persons, Timi Frank and Paul Santus Ofana to commit acts of terrorism and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 15 (2) and 46 (a and b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 15 (2) of the said Act.
Count two of the charge sheet reads: 'That you, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu (M) adult, Christian of No.9 Gimbiya Street Area 11 Garki Abuja, on February 7,2007, in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did willfully provide the sum of one million five hundred thousand (N1.5 million) to one Timi Frank and Paul Santus Ofana, with intent that the said N1.5 million shall be used to carry out acts of terrorism in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) and 46 (a and b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [
(EFCC) (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 15 (1) of the said Act.
Count three reads: 'That You, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu (M) adult, Christian of No.9 Gimbiya Street Area 11 Garki Abuja, on February 7,2007, in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did facilitate acts of terrorism to wit: provided the sum of N 1.5 million to Timi Frank and Paul Santus with intent that the said N1.5 million be used to recruit, mobilize and sponsor armed persons for the purpose of causing insurrection and carrying out acts of terrorism in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) and 46 (a and b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act,2004 and punishable under section 15 (2) of the said Act.
On the other hand, Timi Frank (27) and Paul Santus Safana (35) are being charged with two other counts of allegedly collecting the said N1.5 million from Dr. Ayu with the intent of using it to recruit armed persons for the purpose of carrying out acts of terrorism in the Niger Delta Region of Nigerian, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 15 (1) and 46 (a and b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 15 (1) of the said Act.
The duo is also being accused of soliciting Ken Ninuweigha, the commander of the outlawed Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Camp in Odi, Bayelsa State; Tariby Ebrusie, Monday Nwoyah, Ebeiri Akpan and Ebie Emehie, all of whom are said to be at large, to commit insurrection and other activities in the area and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 15 (2) and 46 (a and b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 15 (2) of the said Act.