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| PHOTO: HuffingtonPost |
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Richard Perekeme Kpodo, was yesterday arraigned and remanded in prison for allegedly raping a female (name withheld).
Kpodo, a former Special Adviser on Security to former Governor, Timipre Sylvia was arraigned before Magistrate Court 10 presided over by E.T. Empire-Ugwa sitting in Yenagoa on two count charges of unlawful detention and rape.
According to the charge sheet, Kpodo detained the victim on June 20, 2018 at Etegwe area of the state capital with intent to rape her, which he did. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Though the accused was not in court, his counsel Funlayeifa Seibokuru, urged the court to grant him bail on grounds of sickness and personal recognition, which was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ayibatonye Jumbo.
According to Seibokuru, the offence for which Kpodo was arraigned was a bailable one, and assured that, as a well-known politician and businessman, he would be available to face trial.
Jumbo, while opposing the bail application, said that being a politician and influential businessman, could jeopardise the case. Jumbo further said Seibokuru failed to tender medical reports to prove his case.
The court adjourned the case until August 10 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison.
Speaking after the ruling, Kpodo said he was being punished for his outspokenness against the Dickson led administration, claiming that the matter was first instituted at the Ekeki police station, where the girl and her family withdrew the case with apologies to him, but was resurrected by the state government to shut him up.
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Kpodo, a former Special Adviser on Security to former Governor, Timipre Sylvia was arraigned before Magistrate Court 10 presided over by E.T. Empire-Ugwa sitting in Yenagoa on two count charges of unlawful detention and rape.
According to the charge sheet, Kpodo detained the victim on June 20, 2018 at Etegwe area of the state capital with intent to rape her, which he did. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Though the accused was not in court, his counsel Funlayeifa Seibokuru, urged the court to grant him bail on grounds of sickness and personal recognition, which was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ayibatonye Jumbo.
According to Seibokuru, the offence for which Kpodo was arraigned was a bailable one, and assured that, as a well-known politician and businessman, he would be available to face trial.
Jumbo, while opposing the bail application, said that being a politician and influential businessman, could jeopardise the case. Jumbo further said Seibokuru failed to tender medical reports to prove his case.
The court adjourned the case until August 10 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison.
Speaking after the ruling, Kpodo said he was being punished for his outspokenness against the Dickson led administration, claiming that the matter was first instituted at the Ekeki police station, where the girl and her family withdrew the case with apologies to him, but was resurrected by the state government to shut him up.
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