76 Awgu farmers granted bail

The 76 Awgu farmers arrested penultimate week by " fake solders" and dumped in prison were Friday, granted bail by two Umuahia Magistrate Courts.

They were arrested on March 17 following a clash with Fulani herdsmen who without authorisation settled in the community and had been allegedly grazing their cattle on their farm lands , thereby destroying their crops.

Their release came two hours before the expiration of 72 - hour ultimatum issued by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB) for their unconditional release.

The 76 farmers were grouped into three and arraigned in tow different magistrate courts -  Court 2, and Court 5, with court 2 handling two batches .

Five count charges  preferred against the  farmers include: conspiracy to commit arson, burning down of 90 houses belonging to herdsmen, unlawful possession of fire arms, possession of five locally made single barrel guns , and being armed with 42 machetes causing apprehension and terror to members of the public.

Journalists were barred from covering the proceedings by one of the magistrates, Mary Emenike in - charge of Court five.

Later in an interview , the lead counsel to the farmers, Barrister Damian Uche-Aja, gave the bail conditions granted to the two batches tried by Chief Magistrate I. U Kalu of Magistrate 2 to include: N200,000 each with one surety in like sum.

He added that in the alternative they could be taken in bail by the traditional ruler of the community or two people of substance who must be resident in Umuahia or Umunneochi.

According to him,  the bail conditions by the Magistrate of Court 5, Emenike, N200, 000 each, five suretees who must be resident in Umuahia, and two passport photos each.

The counsel , however, expressed happiness , that at last the villagers had been granted bail.

He said his clients are prepared for trail as the case was adjourned till April 29.

In an interview, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Godwin Nwobi, expressed joy that his subjects were released  at last after spending 15 days in detention.

He said he could now sleep well as the community had been put in serious pains since their arrest.

The royal father thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his intervention in the matter, while calling on the federal government to look for permanent solution to herdsmen menace in the community.

In his own reaction, the member representing Awgu South in Enugu state house of Assembly, Hon. Nelson Uduji who was also at the court premises, said the farmers " shouldn't have been detained in the first place".

He said that they were innocent of the charges slammed on them, adding that it was a ploy to intimidate the locals from further protest against the wanton destruction of their crops by cattle.

The faint - looking and exhausted farmers left the court premises in chartered vehicles around 6:pm for their community.


Authority Newspaper