A former Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Cassidy Ikegbidi, and His Royal Majesty Eze Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, have been granted N10 million naira bail each by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, citing health grounds.
Additionally, the court presided over by Justice Sika Henry-Aprioku has also granted N5 million naira bail to Martins Cassidy, Stanley Amos, Ariomudoikedidi, Philip Ordu-Goodnews, and Joyce Ekenne.
Justice Henry-Aprioku has mandated that Ikegbidi and Eze Anugwo present sureties of the rank of Permanent Secretary and a traditional ruler from any Ahoada local government areas.
The defendants are also required to sign a bond committing to their consistent court appearances, while surrendering their international passports.
The court has ruled that the five other suspects must present sureties who are civil servants at level sixteen, with verifiable addresses, as stipulated by the prosecution.
Prior to adjourning till 8th December 2023 for consideration of bail applications from other defendants, Justice Henry-Aprioku announced that the main trial will commence on 18th December 2023, allowing the Rivers State Government and the police to resolve the proper handing over of the process.
The former chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Ikegbidi, His Royal Majesty Anugwo, and over fifty others, alongside some individuals currently at large, are facing trial on charges including conspiracy, cultism, murder of the late Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and theft of the late Ahoada DPO’s service rifle.
