Peace Corps Commandant, Dickson Akoh Granted Bail After 90-count Charges

A Federal High Court sitting on Wednesday
in Abuja, has granted the bail application
filed by the detained National
Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr.
Dickson Akoh.

Dickson Akoh
We broke the news earlier that the Buhari-
led Federal Government has on
Wednesday, arraigned the National
Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria,
Dickson Akoh before an Abuja Federal
High Court.
Latest reports revealed that the detained
National Commandant, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson
Akoh, has been granted the bail after his
application was filed at the Federal High
Court, sitting in Abuja.
Akoh had, through his Counsel, Chief Kanu
Agabi (SAN), filed a bail application, backed
by 18-paragraph affidavit, on Monday,
20th March, 2017, urging that he be
released from the Police cell.
Having been detained for 11 days, he was
arraigned on Wednesday, with a 90-count
charge, bordering on extortion of money,
operating an outlaw organisation and
wearing of Peace Corps uniform.
While leading a debate on the motion in
support of the bail application, Barr. John
Ochogwu of Kanu Agabi Chambers, urged
the court, to grant Akoh bail on self
recognition, adding that, the defendant had
earlier been granted an administrative bail
by the Police.
The Counsel to the Police, A.K Aliyu, argued
through his counter affidavit that, “the 1st
defendant would likely interfere with the witnesses,
if granted bail.”
In his ruling, the trial Judge, J.T. Tsoho
said, “since the defendants have been loaded with
90-count charge, which there is no capital offence
therein, bail is in the discretion of the court.”
On the fear that the defendant would likely
interfere with the witnesses, the Judge held
that, “since the prosecution couldn’t advance
reasons to show that, the defendant jumped the
administrative granted him by the Police,” there
was no reason for alarm.
The court therefore, granted Akoh bail, to
the tune of N10m with a surety in the sum
of N20m. He was, however, asked to
deposit his travel documents to the Deputy
Court Registrar (DCR) and shall have access
to them upon request, through application.
The court also requested that the surety
must be an owner of a landed property in
Abuja, the title documents should also be
deposited with the DCR of the court.
He is to be remanded until the bail
conditions are met, even as the Judge
warned against holding him longer than 24
hours if his bail conditions are met.
Recall that the Peace Corps boss was
detained on 19th March, at the facility
belonging to the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS), Abuja, shortly after he
turned himself in, having been told that the
Police was looking for him.
Alabatvnews.