The Judiciary Complex houses the State High Court in Port Harcourt where the murder trial of former chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government council, OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE is taking place.
More than twenty-five security patrol vans loaded with mobile policemen, as well as one Armored Personnel Carrier are stationed around the main entrance of the High Court Complex.
However; OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE was not been seen in court today, contrary to an order by the Chief Judge, Justice IYAYI LAMIKANRA for officials at the Port Harcourt Prison to ensure that the suspect was brought to court to take his plea in a fresh five-count charge of murder and attempted murder.
But at the Port Harcourt Prisons, a group of protesters stormed the location earlier today in solidarity with FLAG-AMACHREE who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress.
Our correspondent UCHENDU EJIOWHOR reports that the protesters, comprising men and women, marched to the prison to demand an end to what they considered to be unlawful detention of OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE.
The protesting youth also questioned the propriety of the fresh set of charges against the former council chairman, which they said was done without police investigation.
On their part; the Concerned Women in Rivers State claim that the APC chieftain was innocent of the charges preferred against him by the state government.
In the meantime; Justice IYAYI LAMIKANRA has adjourned the OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE murder trial to 22nd September.
Justice LAMIKANRA also renewed the subsisting order for the remand of the accused person in prison custody till the next adjourned date.
The development followed the absence of the accused person in court, following which the trial judge ordered the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Prison Service to produce OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE in court on 22nd September.
The Judge also directed the Rivers State Attorney-General to convey the decision of the court to the Comptroller of Prisons to ensure compliance.
Similarly; the hearing of the bail motion filed by the accused persons could not be heard today by the Court of Appeal Division in Port Harcourt.
Our correspondent VICTOR EZEAMA reports that the delay was caused by a counter affidavit filed by the Rivers State Government in response to the matter before a special Appeal Court Panel.
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