109 Alleged Foreign Hackers Get N1bn Bail 

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

109 foreigner hackers standing trial on cybercrime offences were on Friday, admitted to bail in the sum of N1 billion.

Justice Ekerete Akpan admitted the foreign nationals from China, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand to bail, shortly after they were arraigned on a six count charge, bordering on cybercrime and staying in Nigeria without valid documents.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the six count charge, following which their lawyers led by Dr Ogwu Onoja, SAN urged the court to admit them to bail, so as to enable them defend the charge.

As part of the conditions attached to the bail, the 109 defendants are to produce five sureties, who must each sign a bond of N200 million and in addition be residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Besides, the five sureties must each own landed property worth N200 million and swear to an affidavit of means which must be submitted to the court.  

They are also ordered to tender the original copies of documents of the properties attached to the bail, which shall be verified by the Registrar of the court. 

Furthermore, the defendants and their five sureties must submit all their original travelling documents with the court’s Registrar and must not travel out of Nigeria throughout the period of their trial. 

The defendants and sureties are also to submit two copies of their recent passport photograph with the court. 

In granting the bail, Justice Akpan agreed with the senior lawyer that the essence of bail is to allow defendants prepare for defence and that granting such is at the discretion of the court. 

The Judge said that he was not unmindful of the fact that the accused persons are foreigners but that the law of the country presume them innocent until the contrary has been established. 

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Akpan ordered that the males among them be remanded at Kuje Correctional Center, while the females be kept at the Keffi Correctional Center in Nasarawa State. 

Meanwhile Justice Akpan has fixed February 27 next year for commencement of trial. 

The Inspector General of Police was represented at the proceedings by A. S Egwu who vehemently objected to the bail of the accused persons through a counter affidavit. 

His objection did not stand on the ground that grant of bail is at the discretion of the court and the nature of charges against the defendants. 

In the instant case, Justice Akpan held that the charges against the foreigners are not capital ones and as such bailable with conditions. 

At the time of this report, all the accused persons have been taken to prison on remand.