Amaechi’s supporter's under Police siege in court

Amaechi

For about three hours, some plain-cloth policemen laid siege at the premises of an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court 9 over moves to re-arrest a suspect, Charles Amoefule, who is a supporter of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Amoefule, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Omuma Local Government Area, was arrested last week with the Assistant Secretary of PDP in Rivers State, Leo Anyanwu.

The two suspects, who were picked up for alleged sedition, were brought from Port Harcourt and kept in Kuje Medium Prison in Abuja.

While Amoefule was charged before Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Anyanwu is expected to face trial at a similar Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6

But Amoefule was on Wednesday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court 9 in Wuse Zone 2 amidst tight security.

The charge preferred by the police as contained in the First Information Report by Inspector Ibrahim Azo, reads: “Criminal Conspiracy, False Statement in Declaration Which By Law Receivable In Evidence False, Impersonation, Inciting Disturbance and Criminal Intimidation Contrary to Sections 97, 164, 179, 114, and 397(b) of the Penal Code.

“Charles Amoefule, Godwin Onwukwe and Leo Anyanwu now at large conspired among yourselves and caused announcement to be made on Radio 92.3 Nigeria Info and Rhythm 97.7 FM Abuja, that the State Executive Council of PDP, Rivers State has been dissolved and reconstituted and you Charles Amoefule is now elected as state chairman of the party.

“The information which you know to be false and misleading, leading to inciting disturbance in Rivers State resulted to break down of law.”

One of the sources at the court said: “The First Information Report (FIR) was brought in on Friday last week.

“Bail was not given to the accused person. They filed a motion for bail which was supposed to be moved today.

“Today, Police prosecutor brought an application that he would want to terminate the FIR because of the sister case in Zone 6. The court transferred the case, so the court in its own discretion terminated the FIR and discharged the accused person.

Following representations by the defence counsel, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) the Chief Magistrate, Anthony Ogboi Enahoro, however discharged the accused person.