PERHAPS the tense political atmosphere in Akwa Ibom State, particularly Uyo, the state capital would be calm, as the country votes in the National Assemble elections today, with the granting of conditional bail to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe by a state High court presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Idongesit Ntemisua yesterday.
This followed a bail application by Akpanudoedehe's team of lawyers, led by a Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), which was not opposed by the prosecuting team of lawyers, led by the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, in a case of the state Commissioner of Police vs Akpanudoedehe.
Justice Ntemisua granted the bail to the sum of N5million and one surety in like sum, who must be owner of a landed property in the jurisdiction.
In addition, Osinbajo vouched an undertaking that his client and his supporters, in celebrating his release, would not disrupt the peace of the state, saying celebrations can be carried out without resort to violence.
He also urged politicians in the state to go about their campaigns and political activities in an orderly manner and allow the electorate the freedom to choose who they want to lead them, adding: "After all, after the elections, we will all come to live as brothers and sisters again."
The Chief Judge expressed displeasure at the way some sections of the media report court matters and proceedings, thereby misrepresenting the facts. She urged journalists to always crosscheck their facts before publication and frowned at the manner the matter had been reported in the past.
Earlier, Ntekim had told the court that the prosecution was not opposed to the bail application by the defendant.
He had earlier implored the media to be objective in their reporting of the case.
He also urged politicians in the state to balance between the right of an individual and that of the state and society.
Ntekim urged the Chief Judge to use her discretion in deciding the bail conditions, citing depositions by the appellant of his preparedness to provide whatever sureties might be required to be granted bail.
The commissioner submitted that he had withdrawn his earlier preliminary objection to the bail application.
This followed Osinbajo's plea that his client be granted bail on self-recognizance, since not opposed by the prosecution, to pursue his legitimate right as a citizen of Nigeria and aspiration to the highest office of the state in the ongoing elections.
He commended the commissioner's action, saying the tradition of the office is to uphold justice and the liberty of an individual.
Speaking to journalists outside the court premises, Ntekim disclosed that the government did not oppose the bail application not to be seen as being against the freedom of any individual or group.
He expressed Governor Godswill Akpabio's preparedness to meet Akpanudoedehe at the polls on April 26 to test their popularity.
Wild jubilation erupted in Uyo, the stronghold of ACN, among Party members and its candidate's supporters as news of his bail got to their ears.
But it was not certain whether the applicant would be able to meet the conditions by close of work today as the court rose around 3.50pm.
Hearing of the application started around 2.20pm yesterday and the small courtroom was filled to the brim with mostly ACN and Akpanudoedehe's supporters.
The granting of the bail application and possible release of the applicant is expected to douse the palpable tension across the state as the elections kick off today.
Source: Akwa Ibom ACN Governorship Candidate, Akpanudoedehe, Granted Bail (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44204:akwa-ibom-acn-governorship-candidate-akpanudoedehe-granted-bail-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)