The murder case against former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government council in Rivers State, OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE, has moved to the State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.Subsequently; Justice MARGARET OPARA has fixed 17th of May to take the bail application of OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE, after he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of murder and conspiracy. You will recall that FLAG-AMACHREE was first arraigned before the Port Harcourt Magistrate Court, following which he was remanded in prison custody within forty-eight hours after he was arrested.When the matter resumed on Wednesday 4th May, 2016, Chief Magistrate I.O AGBESO struck out the case based on the advice of the Department of Public Prosecution.
However; the Chief Magistrate also dismissed an application seeking withdrawal of the charges against the APC chieftain on grounds of lack of diligent investigation.The withdrawal application filed by the police was backed with a letter from the Inspector General of Police, SOLOMON ARASE, which the Chief Magistrate considered belated.At the High Court today, Thursday 5th May, after OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE was arraigned and the charges read to him; the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, EMMA AGUMA, notified the court that the State Government was interested in the matter.
Following the development; Justice OPARA ordered the accused person to be returned to prison pending the hearing of his bail application.Speaking with correspondent VICTOR EZEAMA outside the court; counsel to the accused person, EMENIKE EBETE said his client has the right to be granted bail according to the discretion of the court. On his part, the State Counsel, EMMA AGUMA, explained that the Rivers State Government does not accept that the accused person should not be granted bail.
