Agbazuere was arrested after the panel issued a bench warrant on him for failing to appear before it for questioning on the Prado SUV in his possession.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Anthony Agbazuere, former chief of staff of the ex-governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; has been granted bail by the chairman of Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government property and funds.
The panel is headed by Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (retd).
Abia State Governor Alex Otti set up the panel on assuming office to recover government’s property said to have been carted away by Ikpeazu’s former appointees.
Agbazuere was arrested after the panel issued a bench warrant on him for failing to appear before it for questioning on the Prado SUV in his possession.
Agbazuere, who appeared in the company of his lawyer, was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety in like sum.
Announcing the decision of the panel on the case file; JPREC/270/2023, Justice Duruoha-Igwe emphasised that the surety to be produced by Agbazuere is to swear an affidavit of means and must be a permanent secretary of grade level 17 or a serving member in the State House of Assembly from the constituency of the witness, reports The Nation on Sunday.
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The panel adjourned hearing on the matter till February 2, 2024.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe also withdrew the bench warrant issued on Ikpeazu’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, Don Ubani, and instead subpoenaed him after considering the applications of the panel’s counsel and the response from Ubani’s counsel.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe expressed the need for a more in-depth investigation into whether there was an Executive Council decision by the past administration bequeathing the Toyota Fortuna Jeep to him, as claimed.
The panel noted that despite Ubani’s testimony, the lack of concrete evidence prompted the call for additional witnesses to shed light on the crucial matter.
“I have considered the application of the learned counsel to the panel and the response of the counsel representing the witness, Sir Don Ubani and I am of the view that there is need to further investigate if there was an Exco decision bequeathing the Toyota Fortuna jeep on the witness,” Duruoha-Igwe said.
“Apart from the recent visit by the witness, there is nothing before us to hold on to. We need to scout for this evidence through other witnesses that are yet to appear before us but peradventure, the witness lays his hands on this all important Exco decision, he should file the same for the panel’s use to enable us to come up with a sound recommendation at the end of our hearing.
“In the interim, Sir Don Ubani is to enter into an undertaken to preserve the Toyota Fortuna black Jeep with Chassis no; MHFDS8FS9L0104225 with Engine no 2TRA691618 and to produce same whenever required to do so.
“The bench warrant issued on the witness on 10th January 2024 is hereby vacated.”