PORT HARCOURT— Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, who is facing a six-count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder before a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, was granted bail, Wednsday, in the sum of N40 million.
Trial judge, Justice Latan Nyordee, in his ruling, admitted Lloyd to bail in the sum of N10million and three sureties in like sum.
Meanwhile the Attorney General of Rivers State, Worgu Boms, who took over prosecution from the Police on Tuesday, hinted of plans to drag other suspects to court, if he must continue with the prosecution.
File: L-R Emmanuel Chinda, Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture; Hon Chidi Lloyd embattled Leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly and Rt Hon Ezekiel Harry, former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly all in Court during the hearing of an attempted murder charge leveled against Hon Chidi Lloyd. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
He said: “It was inappropriate to have Chidi Lloyd face trial alone. Other persons were involved in the crisis provoking this trial. They have to be on trial as well. They have to be prosecuted and I will make sure I bring them in before continuing with the prosecution.”
Also, the Rivers State House of Assembly, has condemned the involvement of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Lloyd’s case, even, when according to it, the commission had no business in the matter in court.
It frowned at the attitude of the ‘powers-that-be’ using every might at their disposal to deal with Lloyd including the use of EFCC, which is not relevant to the issue.
The court, on the bail, ordered that “Two of the sureties must own landed property within jurisdiction of the court and one must be a civil servant on not less than Grade Level 16 and confirmed by Head of Civil Service.”
The court also ordered that the accused must also submit his international passport to the court, adding that the conditions must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the court.
After the ruling, counsel to Lloyd, Mr Beluolise Nwofor, pleaded with the court to allow the accused to surrender a photocopy of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad to tend to his health concerns, if need be.
The plea was, however, turned down by Justice Nyordee, who said: “The essence of granting the bail is to give the accused person opportunity to prepare for his defence.”
Earlier, Nwofor commended the court for granting bail to the accused, saying “We are very happy about that. The learned trial Judge has just ordered the authorities to release Chidi Lloyd on bail pending his trial. It is also in keeping with the order earlier made by Justice Wali of the state high court sitting in Ahoada, who also said he should be released on bail.
“We now have two concurrent rulings ordering that he be released on bail. We would take steps immediately to fulfill the conditions for the bail so that our client would be released. We just filed an application this morning (yesterday) for dismissal of the information on grounds of abuse of court process. The learned judge has fixed it for hearing, November 21.”
Meanwhile, violence almost erupted in the court premises as the teeming youth supporters of Lloyd noticed the accused being taken away in the Nigerian Prisons van, which had brought him to the court.
Meanwhile, Rivers State House of Assembly, has said that it may approach the court to waive the submission of the accused’s international passport, among the conditions for the bail, granted him, yesterday.
Mr David Amusa, Press Secretary to Deputy Speaker of the House, Leyii Kwanee in a statement, shortly after the court granted Lloyd bail , said “The House under the leadership of Otelemaba Amachree, expresses happiness over the bail granted the Chidi Lloyd and therefore, commends the judiciary for its support to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.”
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