A Bukuru Chief Magistrate’s Court in Plateau has granted
bail to Danjuma Fwenji, an Evangelist, who was alleged to have criminally
enticed Joy, the wife of Leonard Dilkon, a former House of Representatives
member.
The accused, who is the Overseer of God’s Grace Divine
Mission, Jos, was granted bail in the sum of N1.5 million at the hearing of the
case on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Dilkon,
who represented Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke constituency in the House of
Representatives between 2003 and 2007, had dragged Mr. Fwenji to the court for
allegedly enticing his wife.
Mr. Fwenji denied the allegation.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, his
counsel, Smart Irabor, prayed the court to grant his client bail, quoting
section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution that held that an accused person was
innocent until otherwise proven.
Mr. Irabor told the court that his client would neither
jump bail, nor interfere with police investigation.
“I can also assure the court that my client will always be
available for trial,” he said.
Mr. Irabor further urged the court to grant the accused
bail on self-recognizance.
But Francis Okafor, counsel to the complainant, who did
not object to the bail appeal, prayed that the court should take stringent
measures in granting it.
“This is important because the accused has been avoiding
the court.
“He has always refused to appear before the court to clear
himself of the allegations levelled against him,” he said.
Mr. Okafor recalled that two bench warrants were issued on
the accused but that it had always been difficult to serve him because “he
moves around with armed policemen”.
The counsel said that the demand for bail on
self-recognizance was “an insult” to the court because the case was a direct
criminal complaint and not a police prosecution.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Sam Galadima,
admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1.5 million and two sureties in
like sum.
Mr. Galadima said the sureties must be persons of standing
and proven integrity, and must also reside within the jurisdiction of the
court.
The magistrate adjourned the matter till April 27, for
further hearing.
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