Court Grants Rape Suspect Bail In Port Harcourt

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted bail to one Favour Ibama (male) who is accused of drugging, raping and robbing his female victims of their valuables, after luring them through social media.

The suspect was arraigned in court on 30 June, 2021, on a fifteen count-charge bothering on rape, administering of illicit drugs and stealing.

Chief Magistrate, Obiageri Onugbum, granted him bail following an application filed by the Defence counsel seeking his bail, after the prosecutor had informed the court on plans to amend the charges against the suspect.

In her ruling on the bail application, Chief Magistrate Onugbum read section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and granted the suspect bail in the sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira; two sureties with two passport photograph of which one must be his biological mother and another blood relative.

The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the address of the sureties must be verified by the court while the suspect must deposit his passport photograph.

The court thereafter adjourned the case to 30 July, for plea on the amended charge.

THE WHISTLER, gathered that Ibama was first arrested on the 17 November, 2020 and handed over to Elekahia Police station following a report of rape and sexual abuse of six ladies before the case was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department.