Aluu 4: Court grants paramount ruler, 3 others bail

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, has granted bail to the traditional ruler of Omuokiri, Aluu community, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Hassan Welewa and three other accused persons, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel, out of the 12 persons standing trial in the gruesome murder of  four students of the University of Port Harcourt on October 5, 2012.
The trial judge, Justice Latam Nyordee, rejected the bail applications of the remaining eight  accused persons due to the capital nature of their offences.
Others standing trial include Lawal Segun, Sergeant Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodu Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril and John Ayuwa.
The court granted each of the four persons bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties each in like sum, adding that the sureties must be residents of Port Harcourt and have landed property.
He also added that the sureties must provide evidence of two years tax payment, which must be verifiable by the court registrar.
Justice Nyordee said the bail granted to the four accused persons was a temporal liberty to enable them stand trial.
The trial judge dismissed the defence counsel’s application, opposing the admissibility of exhibits earlier tendered by the prosecution witness one (PW1), Raphael Ezechi, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP).
The case was adjourned till October 31for continuation of hearing.