A magistrate’s Court 1 sitting in Owerri, on Monday, November 16, declined the bail application for an Imo State lawmaker, Hercules Okoro.
4wardwego gathered Okoro was arrested, detained, and arraigned for alleged assault on Deputy Speaker of the House, Amara Iwuanyanwu.
Okoro, who represents the Ohaji-Egbema constituency in the legislature, was charged also along with four others, Sunday Ambition, Cosmos Opara, Hillary Kingsley, and Azim Reginald, on an eight-count charge bordering on assault and breach of public peace.
According to the prosecuting counsel, T. O. B. Okey, “the charges are punishable under the relevant criminal laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria applicable in Imo State.”
This comes in the wake of the bail application tendered by defence lawyer, Calistus Osundu.
Osundu argued that “the high rate of violence in the state should be tamed irrespective of how highly placed the affected individual.”
The prosecution also accused Okoro of conspiring with the quartet to “attack, assault and also cause serious injuries on number four citizen of the state, who represents Nwangele in the Assembly.”
Okey claimed that the defendants hit his client with a machete and likewise injured him in the shoulder.
But the defence counsel, Osundu, maintained that the charges were bailable.
Following the ensuing argument, the presiding magistrate, Okoroji O. D., ruled that the parties should address the court in writing.
She thereafter adjourned the matter to Wednesday, November 18, 2020, for ruling on the bail application; while ordering that the accused be reminded at the correctional facility in Owerri.
The legislature had on Friday impeached Dr. Chiji Collins as a speaker and replaced him with Mr. Paul Emeziem.
The detained lawmaker, during the courtesy visit by the new team to Governor Hope Uzodimma at Government House; allegedly had altercations with the deputy speaker, leading to fisticuffs.
