BY GODWIN OBI
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined jurisdiction in a terrorism charge slammed against Okolie Gloria and Uzoma Benjamin by the Federal Government.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo while ruling on a preliminary objection instituted by the defendants where in they challenged the territorial jurisdiction of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to handle the matter held that the defendants ought to have been charged in a court located where the alleged offences were committed.
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Justice Taiwo held that even though the Federal High Court is one and has unfettered jurisdiction to handle criminal matters, consideration is given to where the offences on which the legal action was commenced.
He said the issue of jurisdiction is at the discretion of the court, as the court has to consider the location of parties in a matter, the nature of the alleged offences and the place where the offences were committed in determining an application challenging its juriisdiction.
The defendants, in a preliminary objection dated January 1, 2022 prayed the court to decline jurisdiction and dismiss the charge or, in an alternative transfer the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
Gloria Okolie who was arrested and detained in June 2021 by the Nigeria Police Force was accused of offences bordering on terrorism, and allegedly being friends with a suspected member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
She was later transferred to Abuja, despite efforts by her family members to secure her release.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a ruling admitted her to bail of N10 million, wìth two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be at least a level 14 civil servant while the other must own landed property and must have lived at the present address for at least two years.
Okolie and her co-defendant, Benjamin Uzoma were then remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre until perfection of their bail.
The Police had in a statement after 66 days of Gloria’s detention, said she was arrested for allegedly being a member of IPOB and for working with Emojiri to attack officers and stations in Imo.
Justice Sylvanus Origi of the FCT High Court in Abuja had ordered the Nigeria Police to charge twenty one year old Gloria Okolie to court on or before August 31, 2021 if they had any case against her.
The court also ordered that she be granted bail with a bond of two million and a surety who is a civil servant not below level 12, but the orders were not adhered to.
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