A Lagos High Court has granted bail to a Divisional Police Officer, Segun Fabunmi, who was dismissed over the shooting of Adedamola Daramola, during the January 2012 fuel subsidy protests in Lagos.
The trial judge admitted bail to Mr. Fabunmi in the sum of N250 million with two sureties who each must have landed property in Lagos worth N100 million.
Although the law says that bail should not be granted in capital offences, such as murder, bail is still at the discretion of the Judge, so the presiding Judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, granted the dismissed police officer bail based on his health and his performance when he was in the police force.
Delivering her judgement, Justice Akinlade stated that the defendant was granted bail on the grounds that he has renal failure and would need special medical attention which the prison service cannot afford.
She acknowledged that the medical report issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on his state of health was sufficient proof.
The court further ordered Mr Fabunmi to deposit his travelling passport with the Chief Registrar of the court, who will also appoint a police officer to verify documents to be tendered.
After waiting for about four hours to evade the media, Mr Fabunmi and his family members did all they could to shield him our camera.
He was also accused of attempted murder and causing of grievous bodily harm on Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizorba Odoh.
The same court had recently awarded N1 million compensation to each of the four protesters who were also shot during the protest.
The court awarded the compensation in its judgment on the suit which was instituted on behalf of the four applicants by the Lagos state Office of the Public Defender (OPD).
Trial has been set for 16th of July 2013.
