A Magistrate’s Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Thursday postponed the hearing on the bail application for Igboayaka Igboayaka, the detained national president of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), until March 12.
Igboayaka was arrested on February 8 by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ebonyi Police Command in Owerri, just after winning a second term as president of the Council. He was brought to Abakaliki and held in police custody.
On February 12, he was charged with felony at the Abakaliki Magistrate Court and subsequently remanded at the Abakaliki Medium Custodial Centre.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Magistrate Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe noted that it was the first time the case had come up since Igboayaka’s remand on February 12. Defence counsel, Obinna Ekeke, argued for bail based on Igboayaka’s worsening health condition. Ekeke emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “If not for his health, we would not be pushing for bail. It wouldn’t serve anyone’s interest if this young man’s life was lost because of this case.”
Ekeke further referred to the Supreme Court’s stance on similar matters, asserting that the court had the authority to grant bail even without a formal application.
In response, Magistrate Ifeanyi-Oyibe reminded the defence that the application could be made at a higher court if necessary. She adjourned the case for another hearing on March 12, noting that the law allowed for bail applications after 14 days, especially if the offence was not of a capital nature.
The prosecution counsel was notably absent from the proceedings.
Igboayaka, along with several others still at large, faces trial for alleged conspiracy to commit felony and causing public fear in the Amegu Nkalagha community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
