January 20, (THEWILL) – A Magistrate Court in Yenagoa has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Susaine Morgan, over an alleged assassination attempt on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on New Year’s Day.
The suspect is also facing charges of unlawful possession of two AK-47 rifles.
Morgan was reportedly apprehended at the Minister’s residence in Ekeremor Town, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The remand warrant, issued by the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and filed by Police Prosecutor ASP Stella Jerry-Friday Esq., was approved to allow Morgan’s detention for 30 days at the Okaka Correctional Service Centre.
This period will enable investigators to track six other suspects who remain at large.
A source within the court confirmed to newsmen that the remand warrant, filed under suit number YMC/51C/2025, outlined charges of conspiracy, attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the charge sheet, “the defendant was arrested on January 1, 2025, at Senator Heineken Lokpobiri’s residence for conspiring with others to commit armed robbery, attempted kidnapping, and for being in possession of two AK-47 rifles.”
The Police Prosecutor explained that the request for Morgan’s remand was necessary due to the limited authority of the police to detain the suspect without a court order.
“The suspect’s detention will prevent interference with the ongoing investigation, especially as six other suspects remain at large,” a police source stated.
Security reports revealed that seven suspects gained access to the Minister’s residence by blending with the crowd of visitors who came to pay New Year homage.
However, military personnel stationed at the residence were alerted to the presence of armed individuals among the guests.
“Given the size of the crowd, the soldiers could not open fire but ordered everyone to lie down. During the search, Morgan, who carried a bag containing weapons, was apprehended. The others escaped by mingling with the panicked crowd,” the source explained.
Following their escape, the suspects reportedly fired shots within the community, attacked a filling station, and carted away N400,000.
They later fled via the waterfront, where they hijacked a speedboat.
Morgan is said to have provided useful information to investigators about the identities of his accomplices, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.
While some reports suggest the suspects are indigenes of Ekeremor Local Government Area, others speculate the incident could be politically motivated.
Insiders believe the attack may be linked to internal struggles within the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
