Court grants environmental activist, Oyama, bail after 144 hours in police custody

…Adjourns case till Feb 7

A Magistrate Court 7 sitting in Calabar has granted embattled environmental activist, Odey Oyama bail after spending about 144 hours in police custody, and has also adjourned the case till Feb 7, 2025 for hearing

In her ruling, the magistrate, Okoho Bassey in suit no mc/20c/2025 said that the court was enjoined to protect the rule of law and the right of the citizen especially when guilt is not established, she therefore, granted bail to the defendant with a bail condition of five million Naira and two sureties.

She said: “When a case is brought before a magistrate court for the purpose of remand, it ought to comply with section 290 subsection 1 and 2 of Cross River State administration of criminal justice law, that in the instant case, only the charge is brought, no case file and no motion.

“I’m careful not to strike out this case even though it is incompetent before me.” She maintained that the prosecutor did not act in good faith.

Earlier, the defense counsel, Ntufam Sunny Mgbe in his argument, said that a case of this nature ought not to have been brought to the magistrate court, maintaining that the court has no jurisdiction over a case that attracts a capital punishment. He prayed the court to either strike out the case or grant the defendant bail, citing section 136 and 160 subsection 1 of Cross River State administration of criminal justice law.

But the prosecuting counsel, O.U. Ubi in his submission held that the court has the jurisdiction over the case and should not strike out the case and not grant bail to the defendant, citing section 101 sub sec 1 and 2 and section 102 of Cross River State administration of criminal justice law.

The Police was charging the environmental activist, Odey Oyama for promoting native war in Effi community even though they were not able to produce any evidence for that claim.

Recall that on January 14, 2025 the environmental activist and director of the rainforest resources and development centre (RRDC), Odey Oyama and six others were arrested in his home town Okuni by the police from Ikom division of the Cross River State police command, since then, Oyama and those that were arrested alongside with him had been in police custody in Calabar.

Meanwhile, four other accused persons who were arrested alongside Oyama were also released on bail with conditions that they must produce two sureties each and the sum of five million Naira each.