2 arraigned for providing false information on Gov. Dickson’s family

 From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

 Two people said to have been supplying the Nigeria Police with false information about the family of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson have pleaded guilty after their arraignment by the Police.

 Francis Babatunde, 30, and John James, 32, were arraigned at the Magistrate Court, Ovom, Yenagoa for false accusation against Mr. Moses Oruaze Dickson, younger brother of Governor Dickson.

 According to investigations, Babatunde, a plumber working in the residence of Moses Dickson, conspired with James and one Obiene Matthew, said to be on the run, to inform the Inspector-General of Police monitoring team that Dickson was in possession of firearms and narcotics.

 The Police team, acting on the information, had stormed the residence of Moses Dickson at Yenezue-Epie and demanded that they conducted a search on the residence. It was said that after the search, the Police team found nothing in line with the information they received from the accused. They were therefore arrested for providing false information.

 The two accused who were arraigned on two count charges and were being prosecuted by Mr. Matthew Umana from the IGP team.

 The first count charge read That you Francis Babatunde ‘m’ , John  James and one Obiene  Matthew now at large on about the 14^th Day of September 2017 in the Yenagoa  Magisterial District did unlawfully conspire amongst yourselves to cause Mr Moses Oruaze to be charged with offence of unlawful possession of firearms knowing that or not believing him to be in possession of any firearm as alleged and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 99[10 [4] of the Criminal Code Cap 14, Laws of Bayelsa State 2006.

The second count read  “That you, Francis Babatunde ‘m’, John James ‘m’ now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial district did give the Inspector General of Police , a person employed in the public service of Nigeria  Police Force information which you knew or believed to be false by stating that Mr Moses Oruaze is in possession of firearms with the intention of causing the said IGP  to use his lawful power as a person employed in the Nigeria Police Force to the injury or annoyance of Moses Oruaze by causing him to be arrested and questioned and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 100[1] [b] of the Criminal Code Cap 14, Laws of Bayelsa State 2006.

 Two accused pleaded guilty to the two-count charge and Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Mirin Johnson, adjourned the case to October 24 for judgment.