- Court Grants Bail to Environmental Activist
- Odey Oyama Released After Detention
- Magistrate Rules on Activist’s Bail
- A Magistrate Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has granted bail to environmental activist and Director of the Rainforest Resources and Development Centre (RRDC), Odey Oyama, after 144 hours in detention.
Odey Oyama, alongside four others, was arrested by the Cross River State Police Command on January 14, 2025, for allegedly inciting native unrest in Effi Community. Charged with Case No MC/20C/2025, the defendants appeared before Magistrate Okoho Bassey, who emphasized the court’s duty to uphold citizens’ rights when guilt is unproven.
The court set bail at ₦5 million with two sureties, criticizing the prosecution for presenting an incomplete case file and lacking compliance with Cross River State’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law. Defense Counsel Ntufam Sunny Mgbe argued the case was outside the court’s jurisdiction and called for either bail or dismissal, citing legal provisions.
Despite the prosecutor’s plea against bail, the court granted it and adjourned the case to February 7, 2025.
Civil society groups condemned Oyama’s prolonged detention as a violation of his rights, describing it as an attempt to suppress dissent. The Executive Directors of PADIC, HOMEF, and other organizations called for justice, accusing the police of stifling environmental advocates.
