Murder of Rivers DPO: Court grants bail to seven suspects

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted N10 million naira bail to the former Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Cassidy Ikegbidi, and Eze Ekpeye Logbo, His Royal Majesty Eze Ngozi Anugwo, on health grounds.

The court presided over by Justice Sika Henry-Aprioku also granted N5 million naira bail to Martins Cassidy, Stanley Amos, Ariomudoikedidi, Philip Ordu-Goodnews, and Joyce Ekenne.

The trial Judge, Justice Henry-Aprioku ordered that Ikegbidi and Eze Anugwo should present sureties of the rank of Permanent Secretary and a traditional ruler from any of the Ahoada local government areas.

The judge also asked the defendants to sign a bond, assuring that they will always appear in court for their trial while their international passports should be deposited.

DAILY POST reports that the court also ruled that the five other suspects should present sureties who must be civil servants at level sixteen, and whose addresses must be verifiable by the prosecution.

Justice Henry-Aprioku before adjourning till the 8th of December, 2023 for consideration of bail application of some other defendants, revealed that the main trial will commence on the 18th of December, a date which he said is aimed at allowing the Rivers State Government and the police to resolve on proper handing over of the process.

The former chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Ikegbidi, His Royal Majesty Anugwo, and over fifty others as well as some people now at large, are standing trial on five counts of conspiracy, cultism, murder of the late Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and stealing of service rifle of the late Ahoada DPO.