Court rejects police remand application, grants bail to 5 suspects

A Benin High Court on Wednesday rejected an application by the Police seeking to remand five persons arraigned on a three-count charge.

The suspects are Osaigbovo Idemudia, Osasere Eria, Michael Atohengbe, Osamu Sadis and Osahon Ezekiel.

The charge borders on conspiracy and wilful damage at the Owan Forest Reserve in Irue Village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo.

The police had arraigned the suspects in connection with an alleged incident that occurred on Nov. 7, 2025, at the forest reserve.

However, the presiding Vacation Judge, Justice Terry Momodu, declined the application for remand and granted the defendants bail in the sum of half-a-miliion naira each, with one surety each.

In his ruling, Momodu held that the alleged offences were simple in nature.

He said that there was nothing before the court to establish that the defendants had breached or jumped the administrative bail earlier granted to them by the police.

He, therefore, ordered the five accused persons to remain available and report weekly to sign an attendance register as part of the conditions attached to their bail.