By Peregba Jerry
The Delta State High Court granted bail to the 69 suspects arrested for allegedly conducting same-sex marriage in Ekpan Community, Uvwie local government area of Delta State.
Counsel to the suspects, Mr Ochuko Ohimor, who spoke to reporters in Warri, said the suspects were granted bail with a sum of N500,000 and two sureties each.
According to Ohimor, the sureties must reside within the Effurun jurisdiction.
He added the suspects must sign a register at the end of every arraignment at the State High Court of Justice, Effurun, in Uvwie LGA, where they were arraigned on September 4.
Ohimor said: “The suspects were granted bail at a cost of N500,000 and two sureties each. The sureties must reside within the Effurun jurisdiction.”
During proceedings, Police prosecutor, Supol Vincent Orarumen, opposed the bail conditions, but the suspect’s counsel argued that it was not a capital offence.
The suspects were paraded on August 29 at the Ekpan Police Station at the instance of the Delta Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Wale Abass.
They were arrested by a crack team of police operatives attached to the Ekpan division.
The arrest was made while they were allegedly conducting a gay wedding ceremony, which they tagged “All White Party,” at a location in Ekpan, Uvwie LGA.
Delta Police boss had vowed to prosecute them in line with Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Law, which, according to him, prohibits same-sex marriage in the country.
“I can guarantee that they will be charged in court. We are not taking it lightly. It is a clear case, though they are still presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the competent court,” he said.
