In what appears like a resolute move to clamp down on supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, the Police, Wednesday, re-arrested the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Omuma Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Charles Amoefule, shortly after he was discharged by an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court.
In the First Information Report, FIR, that was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Anthony Enahoro yesterday, police, alleged that Amoefule, conspired with one Godwin Onwukwe Anyanwu said to be at large, and caused an announcement to be made on two Radio stations in Abuja that the State Executive Council of PDP Rivers State had been dissolved and reconstituted.
It was further alleged that the embattled LG boss, in the said announcement which was made on July 11, 2013, declared himself as the new state chairman of the party, information the prosecution said incited disturbance in Rivers State and resulted to the breakdown of law and order.
According to the Police, the alleged offence which bothers on criminal conspiracy, false statement, false personation, inciting disturbance and criminal intimidation, is contrary to section 97, 164, 179, 114 and 397(b) of the Penal Code Law.
Specifically, it told the court that it was one Hon. Kelechi Nwogu that filed a letter of complaint to the Inspector General of Police, IG, Mohammed Abubakar, on July 15.
Meantime, Vanguard investigations revealed that Amoefule and Anyanwu were surreptitiously bundled out of Rivers State by armed men about a week ago, a development that fueled insinuation that they were kidnapped.
However, it was learnt that they were kept at the Police Headquarters in Abuja for few days and subsequently transferred to Kuje prison.
It was gathered that sequel to threats by Amoefule to drag the police to court for breaching his fundamental human rights, he was rushed before the Magistrate’s Court in Wuse zone 2 last week Friday and compelled to enter his plea to a one count criminal charge, even as Police informed the court that his co-accused was at large.
Similarly, the police dragged his co-accused, Anyanwu, before another Magistrate’s court sitting at Wuse zone 6, where it equally told the cout that Amoefule was at large.
Though Anyanwu’s case was adjourned till August 20, Magistrate Enahoro ordered that Amoefule be brought before him yesterday to enable the court to determine his bail application.
However, at the resumed sitting on the case yesterday, police lawyer, Mr. Usman Jubril, told the court that he was directed to withdraw the FIR against Amoefule, saying fresh facts uncovered against him would warrant further investigation and his possible re-arraignment at the same court his co-accused was earlier docked.
More so, the prosecutor, vehemently opposed granting the accused person bail, just as he urged the court to discard the bail motion and hands-off the matter.
Irked by the shoddy prosecutorial approach adopted by the police in the case, Magistrate Enahoro warned that he would not hesitate to free the accused person should Police insist on terminating further hearing on the FIR.
Following insistence on the part of the prosecution, the court went ahead and struck out the charge. It also discharged the accused person.
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