A Chief Magistrate Court in Rivers State has remanded 10 passengers, who flew into Air Force Base in Port Harcourt onboard Caverton Helicopters on Tuesday for allegedly contravening the Executive Order of the Rivers State Government.
The 10 passengers were remanded in any government facility less than 24 hours after two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari, were remanded in prison for reportedly flying into Port Harcourt without authorisation.
The passengers were said to have been arrested by security personnel attached to the Rivers State Police Command before they were arraigned via Charge No: PMC/533C/2020.
Defendants were identified as Nwogu Chibunna, ‘m’ (39); Peter Michael, ‘m’ (43); Ajagba Iheanyi, ‘m’ (35); Ekperewechi Oguguo, ‘m’ (43); Nsikan Pius, ‘m’ (38); Abanobi Chinoso, ‘m’ (27); Udoh Hagan, ‘m’ (28); Okachukwu Chuks, ‘m’ (41); Goddy Chukwu, ‘m’ (42); and Omerurike Chijioke, ‘m’ (43).
The charges against them read,
“That you, Nwoqu Chibuna ‘m’, Peter Michael ‘m’, Ajagba Iheayin ‘m’, Ekperewechi Oguguo ‘m’, Nsikan Pius ‘m’, Abanobi Chinoso ‘m’, Udoh Hagan , Okachukwu Chuks ‘m’, Goddy Chukw ‘m’ and Oomerurike Chijioke ‘m being passengers on board the Twin-Otter, Caverton Helicopters on the 7″ day of April, 2020 at Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Disobedience to lawful order and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 517 A of the Criminal Code Cap: 37, Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
“That you, Nwogu Chibuna ‘m’, Peter Michael ‘m’, Ajagba Iheayin ‘m’, Ekperewechi Oguguo ‘m’, Nsikan Pius ‘m’, Abanobi Chinoso ‘m’, Udoh Hagan ‘m’, Okachukwu Chuks ‘m’, Goddy Chukw ‘m’ and Oomerurike Chijioke ‘m’ on the same date and place at the aforesaid Magisterial District, did intentionally disobey the lawful order issued by the Governor of Rivers State as contained in paragraph 8 of the Executive Order RVSG – 01 2020 made Pursuant to Sections 2, 4 and 8 of Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Regulation 11 of the Quarantine (Corona Virus (Covid-19) and other Infectious Diseases) Regulations, 2020 by transiting into Port Harcourt after disembarking from Twin-Otter Caverton Helicopters at Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 5 of the Quarantine Act Cap. Q2 LFN, 2004.
“That you, Nwogu Chibuna ‘m’, Peter Michael ‘m’, Ajagba Iheayin ‘m’, Ekperewechi Oguguo ‘m’, Nsikan Pius ‘m’, Abanobi Chinoso ‘m’, Udoh Hagan ‘m’, Okachukwu Chuks ‘m’, Goddy Chukw ‘m’ and Oomerurike Chijioke ‘m’ on the same date and place at the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by disembarking from Twin-Otter Caverton Helicopters at Air Force Base, Port Harcourt and transiting into Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
“That you, Nwogu Chibuna ‘m’, Peter Michael ‘m’, Ajaqba Iheanyi ‘m’, Ekperewechi Oguguo ‘m’, Nsikan Pius ‘m’, Abanobi Chinoso ‘m’, Udoh Hagan ‘m’, Okachukwu Chuks ‘m’, Goddy Chukw ‘m’ and Oomerurike Chijioke ‘m’ on the same date and place at the aforesaid Magisterial District. Did intentionally disobey the order issued by the Governor of Rivers State on restrict within the State contrary to paragraph 8 the Executive Order RVSG – 01 2020 and an offence punishable under Section 203 of the Criminal Code Laws.”
Defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the four counts against them by the state, even as the Chief Magistrate, D. D. Ihia-Maduenyi, ordered that they should be remanded in any government facility to enable medical personnel from the state to carry out tests to determine their coronavirus status.
The prosecution team was led by Prof. Z. Adangor, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, and Gladys Imegu, Officer-in-charge, Legal/Prosecutions of the Rivers State Police Command was part of the prosecution.
