Akoh: arrested by the police

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday, granted Dickson Akor, National Commandant, Peace Corp of Nigeria, bail in the sum of N10m.

In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho said the court was inclined to grant the bail to the applicant because the alleged offences were not capital in nature.

The court said the submission of the complainant that the applicant might influence or interfere with the police investigation, “is speculative and mere apprehension”.

The judge ordered the defendant to produce one surety in the sum of N20 million as part of the bail condition.

He surety shall be resident in Abuja and must be an owner of a landed property in Abuja, adding that the surety must tender photocopies of title deeds of the property to the Deputy Chief Registrar ( (DCR), Litigation of the court.

Tsoho also said the surety was required to submit his residential address which must be verified by the DCR.

Also as part of the bail conditions, Justice Tsoho ordered that Akor should deposit his international passport with the court and can apply to the court whenever he wants to use it during the cause of his trial.

He further directed Akor and the surety to deposit two copies of their recent passport photographs.

The Federal government arraigned Dickson Akor, alongside Incorporated Trustees of the Corps, on a 90- count criminal charges bordering on conversion of money directly derived from extortion to the tune of about N1.4 billion.

The defendants in the court action are, Police, IGP, National Security Adviser (NSA), DSS, DG-DSS and the AGF who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier the defence counsel, John Ochogwu, urged the court to grant Akoh bail on self-recognition, adding that the defendant had earlier been granted an administrative bail by the police.

Ochogwu added that in the counter affidavit the prosecution did not oppose  the application for bail of the defendant adding, ”we urge the court to grant him bail as we are ready to go on with the trial”.