A Kaduna High Court has relaxed the bail condition granted a former Vanguard reporter, Luka Binniyat, standing trial for alleged false publication against the State Government.
Justice Bashir Sukola on Monday relaxed the bail conditions after advising the prosecution counsel, led by Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), and the defence, James Kanyip, to go and privately debate the bail condition and report the decision to the court.
The court granted the accused bail with two sureties upon presentation of bank statement of not less than credit of N10 million each.
In addition, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council is also expected to stand as a surety for the accused, a condition that was regarded as fair, compared to the initial bail bond of two sureties within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court had earlier requested that each surety presents N10 million and their international passports.
The judge adjourned the case to November 23 for further hearing.
The defence counsel told journalists after the court sitting that the judgment was not what they really wanted, but would have to make do with what they got.
Reacting, the wife of the accused, Gladys Binniyat, thanked God that her husband was finally going to breathe the air of freedom.
She described his absence for over three months as a big setback for the family, especially the younger children.
Gladys said: “The children really missed their father, especially the last two, but the younger ones understand what is happening, based on what they have been reading on the social media.”
Gladys said as a house wife, his absence brought a whole new chapter to their lives.
She appreciated their friends, family and colleagues for supporting the family since the detention.
Present at the court room were the national officers of the NUJ led its by President, Abdulwaheed Odusile, and the Kaduna NUJ Council Chairman and Secretary, Adamu Yusuf and Dauda Doka.
Others are human rights activist, Dr. John Danfulani, and former Kaduna State Attorney General, Mark Jacob.
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