Update:Wednesday,
amid tight security within and outside the court premises, the House Leader,
who was limping and was aided, entered the court room.
The
plea for bail by his lead counsel, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN) was countered by
Donald C. Denwigwe (SAN) who led the Prosecution in the case.
Nwofor
argued that Denwigwe was incompetent to stand for the prosecution as a civilian
lawyer, pointing out that the law only allows Denwigwe to so prosecute for the
police if he obtained a go ahead from the Attorney General of the State for a
criminal matter concerning an alleged offence against the laws of Rivers State.
Denwigwe
had countered that the Police Act allows anybody to prosecute for the police,
but Beluolisa maintained that relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution
overrides the Police Act.
He also
argued that the charges and plea would only be taken if the court rules on
whether the Prosecution Counsel is competent as a civilian lawyer to stand for
the police and whether the Attorney General can seize the case without charges
read and the accused plea taken.
It was
at this juncture that the state’s Attorney General, Worgu Boms, prayed the
court to grant him the right to take over the case, based on the Section 211 of
the Constitution, a request that they kicked against.
Justice Nyordee advised the parties to leave their arguments
pending to allow the accused hear the charges and take his plea, and adjourned
the case to 6th August for ruling on the arguments
whether the Attorney General should take over or whether the prosecution should
continue with the prosecution.
He also
ordered Lloyd to remain in custody, a decision that did not go down well with
his supporters and political associates who had stormed the court very early in
the morning.
247 reports
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