One Chinwikpe Amadi now standing trial at the Port Harcourt Magistrate Court 3 had been granted bail by F.N Amanza, the Presiding Magistrate with the sum of N300,000 and a surety in like sum.
The said accused person was on Monday, the 21st of Oct, 2013 arraigned before the Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing one iron basket valued two hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N250,000) and a cash of Ninety thousand naira (N90,000) all valued at three hundred and forty thousand naira (N340,000) said to have been the property of one Chief Franklin Onuoha.
The accused who however, pleaded not guilty to the four count charge leveled against him was said to have been ambushed by the police before arrested.
The prosecutor who gave his name as Sergeant N. Chigenu, however, told the court that the accused person is the one that the complaint reported to the police and he the (accused) has been evading arrest. According to the prosecutor that: “The accused was ambushed before arrested and that was why he was being detained”. He, therefore added that before the accused be granted bail, a credible and senior citizen of the nation (Nigeria) should stand as a surety.
In his reaction to the persecutor’s submission, the accused counsel whose name was not properly ascertain as at press time, prayed the court to grant his client bail. His words: “The accused had never jumped bail”. And also maintained that his client had been in the village and had never received any invitation by the Police. He therefore, assured the court that a reliable retired Assistant Superintendent of Police would stand for him as surety.
It would be recalled that the accused age 28 Chinwikpe Amadi and other now at large on the 19th day of March, 2012 at Omuonwa village, Ozuoba town, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Law of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
Count II: That you Chinwikpe Amadi and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District steal one Iron Basket valued Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (250,000), Ninety Thousand Naira cash (N90,000) total value of property stolen Three Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N340,000) property of Chief Franklin Onuoha ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (g) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
Count III: “That you Chinwikpe Amadi and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did threatened the life of one Chief Franklin Onuoha with gun and machete and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 86 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
Including the forth count charge which states as follows: “That you Chinwikpe Amadi and others at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of public peace by disrupting and disorganizing the reception ceremony of the general manager of Risonpalm Ubima and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vo. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.” ###
