*Deceased family criticise police for poor prosecution
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who allegedly shot and killed Miss Anita Akapson, a niece of Senator Nenadi Usman (former Minister of Finance), was on Friday arraigned before an FCT High Court in Zuba.
The defendant, Inagozie Igochukwu Godwin, was upon his plea of not guilty, granted bail in the sum of N50million by the court.
In the criminal charge filed by the Commissioner of Police against DSP Godwin, 36, it was stated that Anita Akapson, 31, was shot to death on October 13, 2018 at about 9:45pm, at Katampe area of Abuja.
The one-count charge, which the prosecutor said was a criminal offence, to wit culpable homicide (but not punishable with death) ran contrary to section 22(3) of the penal code and punishable under section 22(4) of the same code with a maximum of life sentence.
After taking submissions by both counsels on a bail application for the defendant, the trial judge, Justice A. O. Ebong admitted the defendant on bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties.
Justice Ebong held that the court granted the defendant bail because the police prosecutor failed to advance cogent reasons under the law why bail should not be granted to the defendant.
Other conditions for the bail include: two sureties who must be resident of the FCT in their own houses and must be serving public servants who should not be below the position of Directors.
The court also ordered that the defendant deposit all his travel documents with the court registry and must make himself available throughout the trial.
Justice Ebong further held that the defendant be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
Meanwhile, human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has kicked against the bail granted the defendant.
Ajulo, who made appearance in court for the family of the deceased, accused the prosecutor for “displaying inherent conspiracy and a clear attempt to shield one of their own”.
