The Benin High Court has granted bail to five individuals arraigned on charges of conspiracy and willful damage of property at the Owan Forest Reserve in Irue Village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. The Vacation Judge, Terry Momodu, rejected the police application for remand and instead set bail at ₦500,000 for each defendant, with one surety required per person.
Court Proceedings and Ruling
The suspects—Osaigbovo Idemudia, Osasere Eria, Michael Atohengbe, Osamu Sadis, and Osahon Ezekiel—were brought before the court on Wednesday. They face a three-count charge related to an alleged incident on 7 November 2025 at the forest reserve. The police had sought to remand them in custody pending further investigation.
In his ruling, Justice Momodu stated that the alleged offences were of a simple nature. He noted that there was no evidence before the court to suggest that the defendants had breached or jumped the administrative bail earlier granted by the police. Consequently, he ordered the accused to remain available and report weekly to sign the attendance register as a condition of their bail.
Background and Charges
The charges stem from an incident that reportedly occurred at the Owan Forest Reserve, a protected area in Edo State. The police arraigned the five suspects in connection with the alleged willful damage of property, which is a criminal offence under Nigerian law. The specifics of the damage were not detailed in the court proceedings.
The case highlights the judicial process in Edo State, where courts often consider the nature of the alleged offence and the risk of flight when determining bail applications. The judge's decision to grant bail reflects the principle that minor offences may not warrant prolonged detention.
Conditions and Next Steps
As part of the bail conditions, each defendant must provide one surety and report weekly to the court to sign the attendance register. This ensures their availability for further proceedings. The case is expected to continue as the court schedules subsequent hearings.
The ruling was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which covered the court session. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the court's decision allows them to remain free while the legal process unfolds.
