The Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded 15 PDP members to Port Harcourt correctional centre for alleged disruption of screening exercise at the party Secretariat.
The 15 suspects, Uchenna Favour, Osiah Smart, Daniel Isaac, Omyx Daniel, Charles Bekee, Fred Koate, Dabelem Thompson, Kelvin Markson, Eze Prince, Salvation Bright, Micheal Nduka, George Brown-Pelami, Emmanuel Ugondu, Miller Chibuike, Fineface Isaiah, who are standing trial on three-count charges of alleged felony, conspiracy and unlawful gathering to bridge peace, pleaded not guilty to all charges after it was read to them.
Correspondent reports that counsel to the defendants, Chigozie Baduwa, counsel to 1st, 5th, 6th, and 15th defendants, SB Batubo counsel for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th defendants while OL Dogini, counsel for 7th, and 8th defendants moved for bail application and prayed the court to grant the defendants bail relaying on section 169 of the Administration of criminal Justice law of Rivers State, number 7 of 2015.
While, principal state counsel for the prosecution, Chidi Ekeh opposed the bail application and urged the court to remand the suspects to the correctional centre so as to face proper prosecution.
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In his ruling, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, A O Amadi-Nna remanded the suspects to Port Harcourt correctional centre and adjourned the matter to 26th of May 2022 for consideration of bail.
Speaking to our correspondent, counsel to the defendants, Chigozie Baduwa and Sb Batubo said the alleged charge is a bailable offence but the court used his discretion to oppose the bail application.
While Chidi Ekeh, principal state counsel said the suspects have been remanded but may be granted bail in the next adjourned date.
Recall that Justice S. D. Pam, and Justice S. I. Mark, of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Levi Jonathan, Timipriye Amos, Ogbonna .U. Emmanuel, Ezie Kenneth and Saturday Sobere to two years in the Correctional Service for illegal dealing in petroleum products without any license.
They were convicted on April 7, 2022 after pleading “guilty” to separate one-count charge preferred against them by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for illegally dealing in Petroleum Product.
