Lloyd to remain in detention till August 6th

FROM: KINGSLEY OMONOBI-ABUJA.
Following what was described as a confused atmosphere at a Rivers State High Court when the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Llyod was arraigned Wednesday, by the Police. Authorities told Vanguard that Mr. Lloyd will remain in detention until August 6th.

[caption id="attachment_406892" align="alignnone" width="412"] 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[/caption]

The decision to take back the house leader Vanguard gathered, stems from the fact that since the presiding Judge in the case of attempted murder and five other counts preferred against Llyod was stopped from hearing the case by the State’s Attorney General, the status-quo will remain the same.

“The case of attempted murder and other counts preferred against Mr. Lloyd are criminal in nature and since there was no hearing as a result of the AG’s intervention, the Police have no alternative than to take back the suspect to detention until August 6 that it was adjourned to”.

Vanguard gathered that the Police team of lawyers prosecuting the house leader is led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Den Nwigwe.

Recall that Vanguard reported on Tuesday that arrangements have been concluded by the Force Criminal Investigations Department to arraign the Rivers State Majority Leader Mr. Chidi Lloyd on Wednesday before the Rivers state high court.

Consequently, a team of Senior Police lawyers led by a commissioner of Police left Abuja for Port Harcourt where they were joined by the Senior Advocate in preparation for the arraignment yesterday.

The police had on Monday filed a six count charge including attempted murder at the Rivers State high court but Vanguard learnt that certain disagreements on the part of the state Attorney General’s office and the prosecuting team led to the non arraignment of Lloyd on Monday.

When contacted, if Chief Lloyd will remain in police custody as a result of the deadlock, Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba said the status-quo will be maintained until date of adjournment.

Police to arraign Chidi Llyod today

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI-ABUJA
Indications emerged in Abuja yesterday that arrangements have been concluded by the Force Criminal Investigations department to arraign the Rivers State Majority Leader Mr. Chidi Lloyd today (Wednesday) before the Rivers state high court.

Vanguard gathered that consequently, a team of Senior Police lawyers led by a commissioner of Police left Abuja for Port Harcourt yesterday in preparation for the arraignment today.

[caption id="attachment_405771" align="alignnone" width="412"] Chidi Lloyd[/caption]

The source revealed that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has charged the team of lawyers to ensure a diligent prosecution of the case, as they must endeavor to tight all loose ends in the case.

The police on Monday filed a six count charge including attempted murder at the Rivers State high court but failed to show up in court.

When contacted, if Chief Lloyd has been formally arraigned, the Force Spokesman CPS Frank Mba said that all is set for his prosecution, as he will be arraigned as soon as possible.

PDP frowns at attempt to foil Chidi Lloyd’s prosecution

Also yesterday the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party  condemned in very strong terms the attempt by the state government on the instructions of Governor Rotimi Amaechi  to arms twist the court to let the former Leader of the state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd who is currently facing six count charge of attempted murder on the life of Hon Michael Chinda, off the hook.

The statement accused Gov Chibuike Amaechi of using his Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, Chief of Staff, Tony Okocha and others to compel the presiding judge to have Chidi Lloyd arraigned in court today, July 30, 2013 against the earlier date of August 6, scheduled for his arraignment.

The statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the State party chairman, Jerry Needam  stated that it is illegal and unjustified for a court of law to issue an order to produce Chidi Lloyd in court today and proceed to hear and ordered him to be produced same day in court.

Such a path of dishonor, the party noted, will not augur well for the current political situation in the state, considering the fact that the charges against Chidi Lloyd are serious and sensitive and must not be handled in a manner that will arouse suspicion of bias and, or complacency.

The party therefore urged all interested parties in the matter, as the case comes up tomorrow  Wednesday July 31, 2013,  to thread with caution, saying it’ll take exception to any attempt no matter who is involved to reduce the sanctity of human life to mere political chess game, further warning Gov Amaechi and his fellow  political office holders to steer clear of the Chidi Lloyd case and allow justice to follow its natural course so that the already over-heated polity will not degenerate further.