…As sacked State APC Chairman takes a plea on the murder charge
By Philip Ezuma
Former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd will today take his plea on fresh charges on murder and attempted murder preferred against him by the Rivers State Government.
On yesterday, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt dismissed an application filed by the former leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd for lack of merit.
The accused person Chidi Lloyd is facing fresh charge No: PH/691CAP/ 2018; State against Chidi Lloyd on Murder, charge No: PH/692CAP/2018, State against Chidi Lloyd on attempted murder, charge No: PH/693CR/ 2018; State against Chidi Lloyd on injury and destruction of public property.
The embattled Former Majority Leader filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him of fresh criminal charges
Delivering his ruling on the application, trial Judge, Hon. Justice Chiwendu Nwogu dismissed the application for lack of merit, saying that the court has the jurisdiction to try the accused person.
The trial Judge adjourned the substantive matter to today December 6, for the accused person Chidi Lloyd to take his plea before the court.
After the ruling, counsel to the State Government, Damilare George Adeyemi explained that the former majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd will be been prosecuted on fresh charges under the Criminal laws of Rivers State and not under the legislative act.
It will be recalled that Former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd almost murdered fellow lawmaker, Michael Chinda through the use of a mace. The Former Majority Leader severely injured his former colleague, spilling his blood on the floor of the House.
In a similar development, the sacked Chairman of Rivers State All Progressives’ Congress APC, Ojukaye Flag Amachree will be arraigned before Hon. Justice Joy N. Akpughunum of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt today, where he will take his plea on the second murder charge.
The embattled Rivers State APC Chairman will also take his plea on conspiracy to murder charge before the same court.
The charges being preferred against Ojukaye Flag Amachree by the Rivers State Government are in respect of Case No. PH/1664/CR/2016.
Court papers obtained revealed that the suit is the State against Ojukaye Flag Amachree.
On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Rivers State High Court adjourned the ruling on the suit filed by the Rivers State Government seeking the trial of Ojukaye Flag Amachree in absentia to January 16, 2019.
In the said suit, the Rivers State Government through her counsels argued that since Amachree has continued to run from trial, it is ready to proceed with relevant evidence in his absence.
