A magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state has granted bail to the chairman of Rivers state Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Chijioke Ihunwo and 120 other on five count charge preferred against them
Ihunwo, who was arraigned alongside 120 others, were all present at the Rivers Magistrate Court 22 on Wednesday where a five-count charge was preferred against them.
The charges were conspiracy; causing a riot; damaging the house gate of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule; unlawful assembly; and causing breach of public peace.
When the charges were read out, the accused youths all pleaded ‘not guilty’.
After the charges were read out, counsel for the defendants, Alabo Tamunowari, applied for bail insisting that they have four capable sureties who will provide all 121 accused persons whenever requested.
This was opposed by counsel for the prosecution, who raised questions about the veracity of the sureties address.
After listening to both sides, the magistrate, Gift Amadi Esq, proceeded to grant bail to all the defendants in the sum of 100,000 each and adjourned the matter to December 5, 2023 for hearing. The number of sureties was, however, increased to 20 with verifiable addresses.
The youths were arrested following their role in the violence that erupted in the state on Sunday and Monday which led to the burning of the State House of Assembly and planned impeachment of the state governor
