EDO State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, who was remanded in prison custody for contempt last Monday by the Federal High Court in Benin City, regained his freedom, on Thursday, after spending about four days at the Benin Prison, Sapele Road, in the Benin metropolis.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Henry Idahagbon, confirmed his release.

The Federal High Court One in Benin City, the state capital, presided over by Justice Adamu Hobon had, on Monday, ordered the remand of the attorney-general in prison, over the purported non-compliance of the state government to an interlocutory injunction the court gave in a suit involving the government and Churchgate Industries Limited over the ownership of Bendel Brewery.

Obayuwana was released at about 3.30 p.m, following a bail application argued by his counsel, Mr Ken Mozia.
The commissioner, speaking shortly after his release, said he was released based on “personal recognisance.”

According to him, “My health deteriorated while I was there. I am still on medication which I am taking home.”

Obayuwana’s personal doctor was said to have produced a report which showed that his health was failing.

On whether the state government would comply with the order of the Federal High Court that it should hand over the running of Bendel Brewery to Churchgate Industries, Dr Obayuwana said “these are policy issues that need a review before any decision could be taken.”

The Federal High Court had, in 2003, ordered Edo State government to hand over Bendel Brewery to Churchgate.

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