By Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Police Command yesterday arraigned one Chief Gideon Okumagba before the Magistrate Court 1, Warri for allegedly trying to bribe the DPO of B’ Division, Warri, CSP Eyoh Aniete, to secure the release of one Chief Kesiena Okumagba who is allegedly involved in a case of serious assault, threat to life and impersonation.
According to Police Prosecutor, Woman Sergeant Evelyn Ojobor the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 98A(i)(a) of the CriminaL Code Law Cap C21Vol. Laws of Delta State of Nigeria,2006.
The charge reads: “That you Chief Gideon Okumagba ‘M’ on 16th day of August 2015 at B Division Warri Magistrate district did corruptly gave the sum of N30,000.00 to CSP EYOH ANIETE, the DPO B Division, Warri to secure the release of one Chief Kesiena Okumagba ‘m’ who is involved in a case of serious assault/threat to life/impersonation and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 98A(I)(a) of the criminal Code Law Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of the Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The accused, Chief Okumagba, who pleaded not guilty to the charge was however granted bail of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) with two shorties each of which must produce two passport photographs.
The Chief Magistrate, V.H. Okonta added the first surety must be a level 14 civil servant who resides in the state and who must produce his July pay slip, while the other surety must be a family member of the accused who has landed property in Warri.
The case was however adjoined to the 10th of September 2015.
Earlier, before the accused was arraigned, a mild drama ensued at the Magistrate court as the accused was not readily available for arraignment.
Our correspondent reports that the police who, after waiting for the accused to present himself to the court, failed to appear at the court and allegedly jumped bail. The police had to go and rearrest the accused and escorted him to the court.
