A Port Harcourt Magistrate Court has remanded 10 passengers who flew into the Rivers State capital in alleged violation of an Executive Order banning unauthorised movement across Rivers borders to prevent Coronavirus.
Presiding Chief Magistrate D. D. Ihua-Maduenyi ordered the remand of the 10 passengers moment after pronouncing same fate on the two pilots who flew air travellers in aboard a Twin-Otter Caventon Helicopters which touched down at the Nigeria Air Force Base, Port Harcourt.
The defendants who pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge against them were ordered to be remanded at any government facility to allow medical personnel to carry out tests to determine their Coronavirus status.
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The prosecution team was led by Prof. Z. Adangor, Rivers Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice who dragged the accused to court on Charge No PMC/533C/2020.
Count 1 of their Charge Sheet read, “That you Nwoqu Chibuna ‘m’, Peter Michael ‘m’, Ajagba Iheayin ‘m’, Ekperewechi Oququo ‘m’, Nsikan Pius ‘m’, Abanobi Chinoso ‘m’, Udoh Hagan, Okachukwu Chuks ‘m’, Goddy Chukw ‘m’ and Oomerurike Chijioke ‘m being passengers on board.
The Twin-Otter, Caverton Helicopters on the 7th of April 2020 at Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanour” to wit: Disobedience to lawful order and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 517 A of the Criminal Code Cap: 37, Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”
