An Akwa Ibom State High Court 1 sitting in Uyo Friday granted conditional bail to the embattled Action Congress (ACN) of Nigeria gubernatorial candidate Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

A team of 30 lawyers led by Prof. Yemi Osibanju (SAN) had filed an application for bail on behalf of Akpanudoedehe before the state High court presided over by the state Chief Judge, Mrs. Idonesit Ntem-Isua on April 6th 2011.

Granting the bail at about 3:30pm today, Justice Ntem-Isua set the sum of N5million and one surety who must have a landed property within the state capital as condition for his freedom.

Giving conditions for the bail, the Chief Judge asked that the surety must sign an undertaking that though it was a celebrated case, whatever celebration would not constitute a breach of peace in the state.

She called on all the political parties in the state to go about their campaigns lawfully, as every citizen has the freedom to aspire for any political position and to campaign for votes in any part of the state, stressing that it was the prerogative of the electorates to decide with their votes.

The prosecution counsel led by the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim said his decision not to oppose the bail application as the representative of the state was for record purposes saying that damages recorded by the state for the sake of politics was enormous.

“As the Attorney General of the state, I cannot pertain to be ignorant of the damages politics is doing to this state and the society at large,” he stated.

He however persuaded politicians in the state not to see politics as a do or die affair, where all forms of tugs are implored to cause damage in the society hoping that the gesture will bring about a deliberate balance between the rights of individuals and that of the state.

“We have decided to act wisely and not to oppose the application as it in the interest of peace in the society,” the Attorney General stressed.

Withdrawing the preliminary objection earlier filed against the bail application, Ntekim maintained that the court is duty bound to protect the interest of the society in deciding the matters brought before it.

In his reaction, the lead counsel, Prof. Osibanju expressed gratitude to the prosecution counsel for not opposing the application saying that his client has been given an air of relief to pursue his legitimate right as a citizen.

He however assured the court that the accused would not jump bail.


Shortly after the judgement, Akpanudoedehe’s supporters took to the streets in jubilation. They were seen on top of motorbikes, with brooms, spraying powder on themselves as well as others.

THEWILL correspondent also gathered that security operatives are parading the streets of Uyo to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the state.