Two journalist brothers, Dare Akogun and AbdulRasheed Akogun, were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each.
They were granted bail by an Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, over alleged defamation.
Mr AbdulMumeen Busari, the State Counsel, who inherited the prosecution from Insp. Nasiru Yusuf, revealed he just got the motion application and prayed the court for 24 hours to have a critical look at the bail application and respond accordingly.
He also admitted that fair hearing deserved time.
But Mr Olaitan Nurain, who was Counsel to the defendants, strongly stood against the application of the state counsel, affirming that the request for 24 hours is a way of trying to deny his clients bail.
He said that Section 221 Sub-B of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended), states case needs to continue without delay as soon as it has been taken.
He added that once the opportunity has been given, a party who refuses to take the advantage of the opportunity cannot cry fowl of being denied fair hearing.
The counsel said the liberty of the defendants was at stake, adding that the application of the learned counsel is to postpone their trial and deprive them of bail application.
He thereafter made an application for the bail of the two journalists till they are arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Magistrate Salihu Bio has ruled out the request of the state counsel and decided to grant the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties each in like sum.
Bio also directed that the sureties must be owners of a landed property with legal documents within the jurisdiction of the court.
He also said that the defendants must present themselves to the court any time their attention was needed.
The magistrate has adjourned the matter till Nov. 23, for further hearing.
