By Martin Opara
The member for Ohaji /Egbema State Constituency in Imo State Legislature, Hon. Heclus Okoro who was arrested and detained on Sunday November 15th for alleged fighting and unruly conduct, was granted bail yesterday, at Magistrate Court I, Owerri.
The legislator who was granted bail on liberal conditions, was asked to provide two sureties, who must be civil servants. They should also tender their local government identification certificates, in addition to five hundred thousand naira, as surety.
The matter was later adjourned to 16th December, 2020 for hearing or notice of out of court settlement.
It was however gathered from a source, that the Imo State attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief C.O.C. Akaolisa, who was present in court, expressed surprise that the O/C legal, opposed the bail application filed last Monday.
Speaking, shortly after the court session, counsel to the accused, Barr Calistus Osundu of Ebubedike Chambers, thanked the Commssioner of Justice and Attorney General of Imo state, Barr COC Akaolisa and the magistrate for allowing justice take its full course. He however regretted that a member of the state legislature was humiliated on account of alleged fighting and disagreement which he said, are bailable offences,describing that as unfair to his client.
He called on Imo people to always insist on justice for all and not just for few individuals.
Barr. Osondu, further stated that, society will suffer, if justice is dispensed only when few highly placed individuals are involved and advised the judiciary which, according to him is the last hope of the common man to rise up to the occasion.
He urged officials of the judiciary, “to put on their clothes of justice and ensure that justice prevails at all times and in all circumstances. It is not about my client who is a victim today, but about all of us. On no account should anybody think that what has happened to Hon Okoro is strictly about him alone, because it may have spillover effects”.
Our reporter, who was in court to observe proceedings, revealed that after fulfilling the bail condition, Hon. Okoro who had earlier perfected his bail conditions, waited patiently until four other people he was detained along with were also released.
Meanwhile, some Ohaji/Egbema women protested on Tuesday, against the detention of the lawmaker, and asked for his immediate release in the interest of peace.
