A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday varied the bail conditions earlier given to a 35-year-old man charged with defilement of a five-year-old girl.
The alleged rapist, Bernard Omotola (35), was dragged before Justice Jude Okeke, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, by the police on a one-count charge of defilement.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him when he was arraigned before the court, prompting his counsel, Maxwell Ogah, to move for his bail application.
The court granted Omotola bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the court, must be titled developed landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court with valid addresses to be confirmed by the court’s deputy registrar.
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Omotola was ordered to be detained in correctional centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions following which he should be released.
The suspect, through his counsel, however, approached the court to vary the conditions, claiming that he was unable to meet the conditions set for his bail.
Ruling on the application for the variation of the bail conditions, Justice Okeke held that the conditions set by the court were in view of the gravity of the offence alleged to have been committed by the defendant.
According to the judge, if found guilty, Omotola would be sentenced to life imprisonment.
While noting that bail was not meant to set the defendant free, Justice Okeke held that bail was to ensure that he was available at all times to face trial.
The judge held that the applicant failed to tell the court which of the conditions he found difficult to meet in the condition earlier set for his bail.
Justice Okeke nonetheless varied the conditions for the defendant, ordering that Omotola should produce one surety instead of the two earlier set.
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