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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There was uproar at the Bayelsa State High Court following a request by suspected celebrity kidnappers for bail on health grounds over their continued Incarceration and trial for the alleged involvement in a series of abductions in the state.
The two celebrity kidnappers, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, were arrested in 2022 for alleged kidnapping of one Danjuma Omieje of the Premium Trust Bank (formerly known as Sterling Bank), the owner of Lozzy Supermarket, and some selected Igbo businessmen in the State.
The kidnappers were alleged to be involved in the kidnapping of Nancy Dickson, the junior sister of the former governor and now Senator, Seriake Dickson.
They were arrested by the men of the Operation Puff Adder,led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo and arraigned at the State High Court on November 10, 2022, in a suit numbered: YHC/77c/2022, on charges of Kidnapping and Conspiracy to commit felony.
There was, however, drama in court following the request by the two accused for bail on health grounds.
The presiding Judge, Justice Iikade Eradiri, after hearing the objections raised by the State Prosecuting counsel, Iyobosa, on the alleged false claims presented by the accused, ordered that they should be medically re-examined.
The counsel to the accused, Stanley Damabide, argued that their clients are entitled to medical examination.
The trial judge, however, ordered that the investigating Police team of Operation Puff Adder, representative of the DPP, Iyobosa and the defence team will be present when the two accused are taken to the Federal Medical Centre for independent medical examination on Friday, March 6 ,2026.
The request for bail by the suspected kidnappers has not gone down well with the Nigeria Police.
A senior police officer from the state police command, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the claims of ill health presented by the accused were false and should be diligently examined.
He claimed that the accused, while at the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre, were enjoying first-class and celebrity treatment with conjugal visits allegedly approved and had a lavish birthday party with fellow prisoners with food supplied from a popular eatery at Ekeki in Yenagoa.
Some of the police personnel at the court expressed concern over the safety of the officers who arrested them and alleged that the accused had boasted of their readiness to file a counter request for bail at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“We are worried that if such bail is granted, the peace being enjoyed in Yenagoa may end. Since the arrest of this kidnapping gang, the state has witnessed peace. They may regroup and throw the state into crisis.”
