A Magistrate Court 4 in Owerri, Imo State on Monday granted N5m bond bail each to 14 aides of former governor Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The aides include Okorocha’s aide-de-camp Eberendu Chiimechefulem and the ex-governor’s legislative aide Steve Asinuobi.
The magistrate, B.U Adikaibe, who ruled on the bail application made for the release of the defendants also insisted that a traditional ruler in the state must stand in as a surety.
They were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, breach of public peace, possession of firearms, unlawful destruction of the official seal of the Imo State Government, a defamatory action on the social media against the governor of the state with the intent to injure the reputation of the state government and the person of the state governor, and disturbance to a lawful order.
Other defendants include Ebere Nwoke, Basil MBA, Ebuka Samuel, Darlington Ibekewe, Obasi Goodluck, Nwaiwu Ndubuisi, Ekpendu Peace, and Ebere Nwokeobi.
One of the defendants Mr Ibekwe slumped while the magistrate was ruling on the bail application.
The defendants were arrested on Sunday in connection with the destruction of government seal at Royal Spring Palm Estate, Owerri.
