Nigerian granted bail after seven years in Indian prison
An Indian court has granted conditional bail to a Nigerian man, Ifeanyi Obi, who has been held in custody over a drug case for seven years without a speedy Read More: https://punchng.com/nigerian-granted-bail-after-seven-years-in-indian-prison/
An Indian court has granted conditional bail to Nigerian man Ifeanyi Obi, freeing him after seven years of imprisonment due to a drug case. The Bombay High Court in Goa determined that Obi, also known as Alex, could no longer be detained for unjust reasons beyond October 29, 2019. According to Goemkarponn, an Indian media outlet, Obi was connected to an alleged drug seizure valued at several crores (hundreds of millions of naira).
The court noted that only seven of the 30 witnesses listed had testified, and the trial had exceeded a five-month deadline set for May 10, 2026. The court stated that keeping Obi in custody for an excessive amount of time violated his fundamental right to life and personal liberty, as the trial delays were not his fault. The prosecution had recovered Rs 2 lakh in cash and various amounts of cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine, charas, and ganja from Obi's rented residence in Candolim.
Despite the prosecution's objections regarding the delay in the case, which they attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the delayed receipt of laboratory reports, the court ultimately granted bail to Obi. He must now post a Rs 1 lakh bond with one surety, provide a valid passport and visa, register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Goa, and disclose his residential address and source of funds.
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