•As Court Delivers Ruling On Bail Application, February 23
February 23, 2023, has been fixed as the day to deliver a ruling on the bail application instituted by a Lagos-based auto dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, accused of causing the death of his wife, Abimbola Martins Ogbonna, in a fire incident.
Justice Nicole Clay of the High Court of Lagos State in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) gave the date on Thursday after entertaining arguments from parties.
It would be recalled that Ogbonna, who was earlier remanded by an Ebute-Metta Magistrates' Court over a manslaughter charge slammed on him by Lagos State Government following the death of his wife at their Lekki residence last October, failed in his bid to get a reprieve from prison custody.
Pending his formal arraignment before a yet-to-be-assigned judge, Ogbonna sought bail to care for his children.
Moving Ogbonna's bail application, his counsel, Victor Ogude (SAN), asked the judge to grant his client bail to enable him to support his children financially.
The SAN insisted that the charge of manslaughter was bailable; therefore, his client should be released from remand.
In an affidavit in support of the bail request deposed to by Ogbonna’s brother, Ifeanyi Elvis Ogbonna, he argued that the applicant was emotionally and psychologically drained in custody without being arraigned.
In his opposition to the bail application, the lawyer for the Lagos State Government, Dr Babajide Martins, stated that Ogbonna was a flight risk and could flee from justice if granted bail based on the severity of the punishment for the offence.
According to Dr Martins, "It is trite that offences that attract capital punishment are ordinarily not bailable except on special and compelling circumstances of a life-threatening ailment.”
Dr Martins also argued that the applicant's counsel has not shown any compelling reason why his client should be admitted to bail.
Justice Clay, after entertaining arguments from both counsels, adjourned until February 23, 2023, to deliver a ruling.
Meanwhile, If Ogbonna is convicted of manslaughter, he is at risk of a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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