A Port Harcourt High Court on Wednesday granted bail to ChidiLloyd, the detained Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Lloyd was arraigned before the court over a six-count charge of attempted murder, conspiracy, wounding, assault, and malicious damage.
Presiding Justice Latan Nyordee granted Lloyd bail in the sum of N10million and three sureties in like sum, and directed Lloyd to deposit his international passport with the court.
He said that Lloyd was granted bail because the offences with which he was charged are bailable and that he had been in detention beyond the days allowed by law.
The judge said another consideration in granting bail to Lloyd was his health as he was reported to be diabetic and hypertensive.
Justice Nyordee said that two of the sureties should have landed property valued at N10 million in Port Harcourt, while one should be a Grade Level 16 officer in the civil service.
Beluolisa Nwofor, counsel to Lloyd, had pleaded that his client’s international passport should not be deposited in court because of his health condition which might require travelling abroad.
The judge objected to the plea on grounds that the case had been ruled and adjourned to Nov. 21 for hearing.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the adjournment, Nwofor said he was happy that the long fight to obtain bail for his client was successful.
“Although it is not a permanent bail, but a temporary one for him to stand trial, we are happy about that,” Nwofor said.
Nwofor said that he had filed an application to have the case against his client dismissed on grounds of abuse of court process.