Tag Archives: 20 pro Biafra detainees: Court to rule on bail applications today

Court rejects Tompolo’s request to unblock his account

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The Warri Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday, dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement application by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, challenging the freezing of his accounts and threats of arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Justice E. A. Obile upheld the preliminary objection by the EFCC in the matter and struck out the matter on the grounds that it could not sit on appeal over an order made by a Lagos State High Court.

The court also said it could not restrain the EFCC from inviting or prosecuting the applicants.

The Commission had in January filed a 40-count charge against Mr. Ekpemukpolo, ex-Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and others over the alleged multibillion fraud at the agency.

Others charged alongside them are Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

While Mr. Akpobolokemi has been appearing in court to answer to the charges, Mr. Ekpemukpolo has consistently shunned the court summons.

A federal court had, on January 14, issued a warrant for the arrest of the former militant leader after he shunned an invitation to appear before the court.

On February 8, Justice Ibrahim Buba renewed the arrest warrant? and a few days later, the EFCC declared Mr. Ekpemupolo wanted.

Mr. Ekpemukpolo however filed a suit challenging the allegations of fraud against him.

In the suit, filed on his behalf by a Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the former militant leader contended that sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which prohibit him from seeking a stay of proceedings in his trial, were infringing on his constitutional rights to fair hearing.

He asked the court to nullify sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA and restrain the FG, EFCC and the Inspector General of Police from deploying those sections of the law against him.

20 pro Biafra detainees: Court to rule on bail applications today

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Chief Magistrate Andrew Jaja of a Port Harcourt Magistrate’s court will today rule on the bail applications filed by counsels of 20 pro Biafra supporters arrested in Port Harcourt during a protest march last week by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The protesters had demanded the unconditional release of the Director of Biafra radio, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Jaja had to defer the case till today after listening to arguments of counsels of the 20 suspects seeking the court to grant them bail last week. While remanding them in prison custody, the Chief Magistrate said he needed to take a critical look at the issue and thus adjourned till today.
The suspects were, among other things, charged for treasonable felony. They also allegedly tore the nation’s flag, an act the Police said was a threat to the unity of the country.
Those arraigned were: Benson Sunday (21), Emmanuel Ali (25), Ukeme Monday (32), Chibuzo Ezechina (33), Charles Eze (29), Egbo Okechukwu (24), Chibona Ifion (47), John Douglas (20), Ezenwa Alphonsus (51), Wori Endurance (30), Chinomere Nwolu (25), Henry Eze (36), Friday Uzunwa (22), Igodo Abio (34), Akaniyene Uwem (22), Eni Iboro (27), Obinna Stephen (26), Monday Ocha (37), Obinna Ibekwe (27), and Kingsley Ezengorie (24).
The three-count charge against them read in part, “…on October 20, 2015, at about 2:00p.m., at Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt, in Port Harcourt magisterial District, the suspects and others now at large did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2), of the criminal code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
“… on same date and time did without lawful authority demonstrate and chant war song that Hausa is not part of Biafra, which caused panic in the neighbourhood, instilled fear on reasonable grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic within the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(1) of the criminal code, Cap C38 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
And “…all the suspects and others now at large on the same place and time, did wilfully and unlawfully damage the Nigeria flag, which was hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc, Ikoku Branch in Port Harcourt, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of criminal code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”
Meantime, the Anambra State Police command said, yesterday, that no supporter of director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was detained by it, contrary to a newspaper report on the matter.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for the command, Mr. Ali Okechukwu said the 17 persons, made up of 13 females and four males, who were among those protesting on the said date, were cautioned and asked to go home by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma.
He denied a newspaper report that the police shot four members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, describing such report as mischievious.

 

 

 

Credit : Vanguard