The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has approved bail for 12 individuals accused of murdering Jeffrey Akro, a student at Ajayi Crowther University.
Presiding over the case, Justice Ladiran Akintola set bail at ₦5 million for each defendant, requiring two sureties of the same amount, one of whom must be a biological parent.
The defendants, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge against them, will face trial starting February 21, 2025.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola clarified that granting bail is not equivalent to declaring the defendants innocent.
Prosecution counsel Victor Otomiewo reinforced this, stating, “Bail is neither a declaration of innocence nor an acquittal.”
Wole Efunnuga, representing one of the accused, praised the judge’s impartiality, noting that the decision aligned with the interests of all parties involved.
