A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the release of the Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheedeen Asari-Dokubo, on health grounds.
His release on bail came barely a week after some governors in the Niger Delta appealed to President Umaru Yar�Adua to free him because of his ill health.
The same court and the Supreme Court had previously refused requests by Asari-Dokubo for bail, citing national security.
Ruling after a special application by the counsel for the NDPVF leader, Mr. Festus Keyamo, presiding Justice Peter Olayiwola, said, �I�m convinced the accused is not playing to the gallery.
�The accused is ordered to be released on health grounds.�
Olayiwola, who had absented himself in court two consecutive times, ordered the Ijaw youth leader not to engage in any political activity. He added that Asari-Dokubo�s movements should be monitored.
After Keyamo presented the special application for NDPVF leader�s release, the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Salihu Aliyu, was asked if he had any objection.
He stunned the court by not opposing the application. Instead, he asked that three conditions be attached to the bail.
One is that Asari-Dokubo should not participate in political rallies and demonstrations. Two, he must report to the Department of State Security Service whenever he travels from his base to anywhere in the country.
And three, he must seek SSS�s permission before he travels abroad; and when he arrives in any country, he must report first to the Nigerian embassy.
Olayiwola acceded to the conditions and also asked him to produce two eminent citizens as sureties.
In less than an hour, the proceeding was over, with the judge adjourning the case until when Asari-Dokubo is fully fit to stand trial.
While the proceeding lasted, the NDPVF leader was not brought to court. There was, however, heavy presence of security operatives.
While arguing the application to get Asari-Dokubo released on bail, Keyamo told the court that he (Dokubo) �has a history of hypertension and diabetes.�
�His condition has deteriorated while in custody,� he added.
Asari-Dokubo was arrested in 2005 and charged with alleged plans to overthrow the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other offences.
He was arraigned on October 6, 2005 at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and applied for bail.
His trial never started in the real sense of criminal one before the court ordered that he be released on Thursday.
One of the offences said to have been committed by the Asari-Dokubo is that on August 28, 2005 at SAMSY Hotel in Benin, Edo State, he conspired with other people at large to remove Obasanjo from office by unconstitutional means.
He was also accused of planning to wage a war to compel Obasanjo to change his policies.
The above, which formed count one of the charges, amounts to an offence contrary to Section 41 and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
Count two is that on or about August 28, 2005, he committed treasonable felony by belonging to militant groups known as the NDPVF; Congress for the Liberation of Ikwere People; and Chikoko Movement, which threatened to take up arms in order to intimidate and overawe Obasanjo and his government.
The act, according to the charge sheet, is contrary to, and punishable under Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
Leaders of the Niger Delta, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed happiness over the development and praised Yar�Adua for heeding their plea for the release of the Ijaw youth leader.
The Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said the release of Asari-Dokubo would lead to the restoration of peace in the region.
He said, �I congratulate the new President and his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for taking this magnanimous decision. Now that he has been freed, peace will return.
�We are very happy and every Nigerian is happy. It is not an Ijaw matter alone. If you are practising democracy, you should not detain people unjustly. The man did not commit any offence. It was a political issue which must be treated politically.�
Clark, who urged youths in the region to give peace a chance, said, �Everything they (youths) required will be given to them within the next 100 days. They will be surprised that the Federal Government will make concrete development in the area for the people to see.�
The Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom, Mr. Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the release of Asari-Dokubo was a testimony that Yar�Adua�s administration was not a puppet of Obasanjo.
Ayemi-Botu commended the President for heeding the voice of reason.
The Chairman of the South South Peoples Assembly in Delta State , Dr. B. K. Adansen, said the release of the youth leader would create an enabling environment for the development of the region.
Adansen, who is also the Secretary of Delta Elders and Stakeholders� Forum, added, �I believe that a beautiful atmosphere for development has been created in the Niger Delta.�
The President of the Niger Delta Oil Producing Communities Development Organisation, Chief Saturday Eregbene, described the detention of Asari-Dokubo as oppressive.
Eregbene said his release ndicated that the Federal Government was ready to develop the region.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Tokpido Amanana, said the detention of Asari-Dokubo was the cause of the problems in the region.
�His release is a good thing because the presence of Asari-Dokubo behind bars was a problem in the Niger Delta. It is a thing of joy to the people of Ijaw nation and people of Niger Delta,� he added.