A Nigerian national, Ifeanyi Pascol Obi, also known as Alex, has been granted conditional bail by the Bombay High Court at Goa after spending nearly seven years in custody over a drug-related case.
Obi was arrested in October 2019 and has remained in custody while his trial continued. The court raised concerns over the prolonged delay in concluding the case.
Court Grants Conditional Bail
The Bombay High Court at Goa ruled that Obi could not continue to remain behind bars indefinitely because of delays in the trial.
According to the court, only seven of the 30 listed witnesses had testified, while an earlier deadline for completing the trial had expired on May 10, 2026.
The court held that prolonged incarceration, where the delay was not attributable to the accused, could affect his fundamental right to life and personal liberty.
Details of the Drug Case
Obi was arrested on October 29, 2019, in connection with a case registered by Calangute Police in Goa.
According to the prosecution, authorities recovered cash and several substances from his rented premises in Candolim. The seized materials reportedly included 1,021 grammes of cocaine, 2,035 grammes of MDMA, 760 grammes of amphetamine, 106 grammes of charas and 1,270 grammes of ganja.
The prosecution said the seized substances were presented before a magistrate and that a forensic laboratory report confirmed them as contraband.
The case remains pending before the Additional Sessions Judge at Merces.
Prosecution Raises Objections
During the bail proceedings, prosecutors opposed Obi’s release and attributed some of the delays to the COVID-19 pandemic and the delayed receipt of a forensic report from Pune.
The prosecution also brought to the court’s attention an earlier conviction relating to an overstay offence.
Despite those concerns, the court concluded that the length of Obi’s detention and the continued delay in the trial justified granting conditional bail.
Bail Conditions
The court ordered Obi’s release on a Rs 100,000 bond with a surety of the same amount.
His release is subject to several conditions, including producing a valid passport and visa, registering with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Goa, providing his residential address and disclosing his source of funds.
He is also required to report to Calangute Police Station every Monday, attend court hearings and comply with conditions relating to witnesses and evidence.
Trial Still Pending
Although the court has granted Obi conditional bail, the underlying drug case has not been concluded.
The bail order allows him to remain out of custody while the legal proceedings continue, subject to compliance with the conditions imposed by the court.
Conclusion
The case has drawn attention to the issue of prolonged detention of an accused person while a trial remains incomplete. The Bombay High Court at Goa’s decision allows Ifeanyi Pascol Obi to leave custody under specified conditions, while the drug case against him continues before the trial court.
Sources
PUNCH Newspapers; The Goan.