The Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa today granted bail to Jonah Okah, who served as speechwriter to former governor Timipre Sylva, in a criminal defamation suit brought against him by the current State Government House Accountant, Mr. Richard Etonye.
Okah, a civil servant in the State Ministry of Justice, was arrested in Yenagoa on August 31 by the police, and detained for allegedly defaming Mr. Etonye in a Facebook post.
A magistrate court, presided over by Magistrate Pere Boassa, had earlier rejected bail for the accused over the alleged likelihood of his interfering in the ongoing investigation of the case against him, and for his protection against possible reprisal attacks.
Bossa had also noted that the bail application was turned down over Okah’s unrepentant posture and likelihood to commit another offence.
But the Magistrate Court on Tuesday discharged and acquitted Mr. Okah without the anticipated bail hearing, announcing that the prosecutor had filed a new suit at the State High Court.
The High Court, presided over by Justice Kate Abiri, the State Chief Judge, heard the application for bail by the defence counsel on the grounds that the accused is a State Counsel and would readily present himself for every hearing.
The bail application was not opposed by the counsel representing the state.
Consequently, Okah was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum who is also a senior civil servant on Grade Level. 12.
The case was adjourned to October 14
.
