Rivers traditional ruler, over 50 others remanded over murder of police DPO

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Siki Henry Apirioku on Thursday remanded Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi, the suspended king of Igbu Akoh kingdom and over 50 others in Port Harcourt maximum Correctional Centre after they were arraigned over the alleged murder of the late police DPO of Ahoada East local government area, SP Bako Angbashim.

The defendants were arraigned on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and cultism among others.

The traditional rulers and the other suspects were remanded in prison after the court rejected a request for their bail by their lawyer.

Acting Officer-in- Charge,(O/C )Legal and prosecuting Counsel, SP Enyiyepere Sikpi opposed the bail application, pointing out that under the Law, a charge as grievous as murder and conspiracy to murder cannot be granted by just mere oral application in a High Court.

After listening to arguments by both counsels, Justice Apirioku ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

He adjourned the trial to November 21, 2023, for the hearing of the plea for bail consideration.

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, the Acting O/C Legal and prosecuting counsel, SP Sikpi explained that the defendants cannot be granted bail at their first appearance in court due to the gravity of the charge preferred against them.

He said he opposed to the oral application because such charges need a proper bail application.

On his part, one of the Counsels to the defendant, Sir Uchechukwu Igbegiri stated that at the next adjourned date, a proper bail application will be moved due to the nature of the charges.

Recall that Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara had announced the suspension of Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, for acts of complicity and allegedly ceding control of his territory to the notorious criminal gang who murdered the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Police Station.

Angbashim was brutally murdered by a gang of notorious Iceland cultists, led by one Gift David Okpara, aka 2Baba on the 8th of September, 2023 at Odiemerenyi community of Ahoada-East.

The Governor also placed a 100,000,000 bounty on the head of the gang leader.

Fubara noted that Gift David and his criminal gang were allowed to establish camps in the locality and are responsible for the resurgence of violent crimes, including kidnapping and terrorism in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State.

His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, is hereby suspended indefinitely for acts of complicity in ceding control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities” the Governor said