*Amaechi condemns invasion of EFCC
Crisis in Rivers State deepened on Tuesday as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd was sent to prison on the orders of a High Court in Port Harcourt.
This came as the Rivers State Government described the invasion of the State by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a violation of judicial processes and witch-hunting of state government officials.
Presiding Judge, Justice Letam Nyordee of the Rivers State High Court ordered the remand of the House leader in Prison Custody pending the determination of a bail application filed by his counsel.
It would be recalled that last Tuesday, a High Court in Ahoada presided over by Justice Charles Wali granted Lloyd bail.
But during Tuesday’s hearing, lead Counsel to Lloyd, Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, had moved a motion of application of bail shortly after the lawmaker pleaded not guilty to all six-count charges preferred against him by the Police, bothering on conspiracy, attempted murder, intent to maim, disfigure and injure unlawful grievous harm and wilfully destroying government property on the 9th of June, 2013 at the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to sections 324, 320, 312, 305, 351 and 355 of the Criminal Code Law, 1999 and the Rivers State Criminal Procedure Law, Cap 37 laws of Rivers State, 1999.
Nwofor submitted that the motion was brought pursuant to section 118 sub 124 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Rivers State Cap 37, Sections 33, 34 sub 1(a), 35(1)(4), 36 sub 6, 39 rule 1(2) and 41 sub 1 of the 1999 Constitution, and Article 4, 5, 6, 12, sub 1(2) and 16 sub 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act Cap A9 Vol 1 Laws of Nigeria, 2004.
He also relied on the 29-paragraph affidavit sworn to, the exhibits attached therewith and the written addresses filed and as well the further affidavit to pray the court that the accused be granted bail.
He urged the court to discountenance the counter-affidavit filed by the Police on the bail application, maintaining that pursuant to section 36, sub 5 of the Criminal Law, a person is deemed innocent until a competent court of law decides otherwise.
He submitted that that the accused deserves bail as none of the charges against him bothered on murder, armed-robbery or felony.
He prayed the court to grant Lloyd bail on self-recognition, pointing out that the accused wilfully turned himself to the Police since 26th of July, adding that considering the status of the accused he will turn himself for trial.
Attorney-General of State, Mr. Nworgu Boms who had earlier taken over the matter after Lloyd was initially arraigned, applied to withdraw the counter-affidavit filed by Police, saying they were ready to go on with the trial of the matter.
But presiding Justice Nyordee insisted that the House leader be remanded in prison and be re-arraigned on Wednesday for the consideration of his bail application.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Mr. Tony Okocha, while reacting to the invasion of the EFCC said the Chibuike Amaechi administration in the state has no reason to be afraid probe.
He said the anti-graft agency is deliberately trampling on judicial orders, saying the agency is aware of a subsisting order, which ordered the body to stay away from interrogating or investigating officials of the state on financial dealings of the state.
He said what the state frowns on, was the impropriety the body had introduced in its operations, noting that the operatives, if they felt the need to probe the affairs of the state should go ahead and vacate the court order, which restrains them from coming into the state government affairs.
He described it as another move by the federal government’s to intimidate and witch-hunt the state government.
He said: “There is a subsisting court order that says they cannot interrogate or investigate officials of Rivers state government on the financial dealings of the state’s affairs.”