November 30, (THEWILL) – Suspected kidnap kingpins, John Lyon and Emmanuel Angase, have been arraigned before a Bayelsa State High Court, on a 14-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping and armed robbery.
The two suspects, while taking their plea before Justice Eradiri, pleaded not guilty to all the fourteen count charges.
According to the counts read out by the court clerk, John Lyon Ike, Emmanuel Charles Angase and others, at large, were charged on four counts of “Conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 444 sub (a) of the criminal code law, Cap (C) Laws of Bayelsa State, 2006.
They were also charged with eight counts of kidnapping, contrary to Section 2 sub (1) of the Kidnapping and Other Offences Laws of Bayelsa State 2013,” and a further two counts of armed robbery, contrary to Section 329 sub (2 ) of the criminal code law, cap ‘C’ of Bayelsa State, 2006.”
The prosecution counsel, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Apulu Iyabosa, made an oral application that the accused persons be remanded at the Yenagoa Correctional Centre and Prisons.
The trial judge, Justice Eradiri, granted the request of the prosecution counsel and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
He urged the prosecution counsel to furnish the defence counsel with all the necessary documents for the commencement of the trial and adjourned the matter to December 5 and 21 for trial.
The prosecution counsel, Iyabosa Apulu, in a chat with newsmen, explained that the ravaging flood delayed the trial, adding that the suspects were stuck in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they went for investigations and could not return due to the flooded East-West Road, and only returned last week.
