The adjournment came on Tuesday shortly after the applicants and the respondent adopted their countermotions and written addresses.
Justice Mbonu-Nwenyi is also the trial judge in the main suit where the applicants, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Maxwell Nwokolo as the defendants are currently facing trial as suspected kidnappers of Agbasimalo.
The judge had equally adjourned the main matter to July 19, 2024, for the continuation of the cross-examination of one of the prosecution witnesses, Chief Godwin Agbasimalo (aka Oga Ndi Oga), elder brother and sponsor of the campaign organisation of the Labour Party and the kidnapped victim.
Agbasimalo, who was kidnapped in September 2021 during a political function at Azia community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has not been seen to date.
In the Motion numbers: HIH/M6c/2023 and HIH/242M/2023, the defendants/applicants, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Maxwell Nwokolo had through their legal counsels, B. I Nkememena Esq and Ikenna Obidiegwu Esq, had filed the motions asking for an order of the court to grant them bail to enable them to feel free to face the trial proper of their kidnap accusations.
The counsels to the accused had told the court that in the dispensation of justice, there is no room for sentiment.
But in a counter-motion, the prosecution counsel, Charity Madukaife Esq, an Assistant Director in the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, objected to their bail applications, arguing that such a matter as kidnap which carries a capital punishment, is not a bailable offence.
She, therefore asked the court to refuse the accused bail, insisting it is not a bailable offence as the offence carries a capital punishment.
The trial judge, after listening to all the parties, therefore fixed October 4, 2024, for ruling on the matter.
