The Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has granted bail to the community leader of Otulu community in Anioha South Local Government Area, Obi Francis Medolunwa and 17 others.
The accused persons, standing trial over alleged offences of unlawful possession of firearms, causing grievous harm to one James Jonah and laying ambush to innocent members of Otulu community in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, in Charge No. FHC/ASB/154c/2025, were granted bail after months of incarceration.
They were granted bail in the sum of N10m each and a surety in like sum, who must be a verified property owner.
Addressing Journalists at the premises of the Federal High Court in Asaba, one of the Counsels representing Obi Medolunwa and others, Solomon Ossai disclosed that the court granted bail to all the 18 accused persons, expressing confidence that the court would eventually assert the innocence of their clients.
“Although, there are other issues that would have resurfaced regarding the manner the security agents were going about this case, the court will address it. That’s why we are here, for the court to decide and we are confident that at the end of the day, justice will be delivered. Each party involved will have a reason to appear before this court, at least for those that have criminal charges hanging on their necks, their names will be clarified showing that there’s nothing against them.
“They were charged with unlawful possession of firearms, assaults and breach of public peace”, Ossai noted.
The counsel disclosed that the police were still hunting for some other members of the community over offences that they (Police) can not prove.
Earlier, the defence counsel for the first defendant, Shokare Sheriff, while contending that the matter was already in court, expressed the belief that justice would prevail.
“No other person gives justice other than the court. We believe in the court, and we believe in the judge, even when the nominal complaints try to malign the integrity of the judge by writing a petition accusing the judge of being biased.
“But then we believe in the judge. She has been doing the right thing.
Recall that there has been an ongoing land dispute between Otulu community and Ogwashi-Uku community leading to the arrest of some Otulu youths who were charged with assaults, unlawful possession of weapons and breach of public peace.
Obi Medolunwa, the community leader, was arrested and detained at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for months before he was brought back to Delta for arraignment.
