Man Collapses as Court Orders His Remand in Prison

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

There was a mild drama thursday at the Magistrate Court in Warri, Delta State was thursday thrown into laughter, when an accused who alleged that a bishop was sponsoring members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) collapsed as he was ordered to be remanded in prison custody along with his accomplice.

The accused, identified as Smart Etiemor, on hearing the court’s pronouncement.
The accused was arraigned alongside, Robinson Dagbolo before the court.

The Chief Magistrate, C I Moeteke, ordered them to be remanded at the Okere prisons in Warri while awaiting legal advise from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The duo were docked for allegedly lodging a petition with the police that the founder of New Salvation Chuch of Christ, Bishop Sunny Jero was sponsoring members of Niger Delta Avengers.

They accused Jero of running shady deals, including human trafficking, gun running and pipeline vandaslism and other criminal activities.

The middle-aged suspects were arraigned on a one-count charge of false accusation, an offence punishable under Section 125 of the Criminal Code Cap c21 of Delta.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge but the magistrate failed to take their plea, saying the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Moeteke, however, adjourned the case till August 18 for mention
The prosecution counsel, Sunny Irabor, had told the court that the suspects allegedly petitioned the complainant on July 14, 2016 over human trafficking, gun running and sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.

He said after obtaining a search warrant, the police combed the church and private residence of the Bishop in Warri alongside the suspects adding that nothing incriminating was found.
According to him, the complainant (Jero) had to re arrest the suspects for false accusation.

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