A commercial driver, Amaechi Eze, from Awgu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State and his friend , Emmanuel Obetta were at the weekend arraigned in an Enugu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging a banner bearing the pictures of Enugu State Governor’s wife and Awgu Local Government Area Chairman’s wife.
Daily Trust recalls that the President of an Enugu-based human rights body, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRANN), Olu Omotayo, had raised the alarm through a petition to the Commissioner of Police Enugu State last Thursday concerning the continuous detention of Amaechi Eze and his friend, Emmanuel Obetta since the 3rd day of May 2018, on the allegation of damaging a banner featuring the pictures of Enugu State Governors wife Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi and Awgu Local Government Chairmans’ wife Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke, in respect of a past event.
Both Eze and Obetta who were with him at the time of arrest, were, however, arraigned on Friday before an Enugu Magistrates’ Court presided over by His. Worship C.R. Nwoye (Mrs), on a two count charge in Charge No. CME/278C/2018.
The two men were charged for conspiracy and “willfully and unlawfully damage a banner featuring the pictures of Enugu State Governors wife Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi and Awgu Local Government Chairmans’ wife Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke, value not yet known property of Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.”
Counsel to the two accused persons, Barrister Olu Omotayo who applied that the Court grant them bail on a lenient and liberal terms as both accused had been in police custody since 3rd May 2018.
But the prosecuting officer, Sergeant Bonaventure Nnadozie did not oppose the bail of the accused persons, although he wanted the bail to be granted on stringent conditions.
The Magistrate Nwoye later admitted them to bail in the sum of N100, 000 naira with one surety each in like sum while the case was adjourned to June 12, 2018, for hearing.