The Police in Bayelsa State on Wednesday arraigned 12 women from Agobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area before a Magistrates Court for allegedly using charms to disrupt an ongoing road project.
The women were arraigned over their alleged involvement in an unlawful assembly and the use of diabolic means to block the ongoing construction of the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road that is intended to link Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA.
Court records listed the accused as Madam Nerisa John (43), Christiana Famous (36), Dolphina Ochai (34), Flora Clinton (55), Ayibanua Lucky (33) and Motoko Oyibadoemi (54).
Others are Amilo Brandy (30), Tuebi Romeo (25), Ayibaegben Godbless (40), Becky Williams (37), Ayababy Kwoli (50) and Falaba David (30).
The police filed a two-count charge against them before the Magistrate Court, Oporoma.
READ ALSO:
The police alleged that from November 24 to 30, 2021 at Agobiri community in Oporoma, the accused conspired among themselves to commit felony, viz unlawful assembly, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 444(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap C 14 Laws of Bayelsa State, 2006.
It said: “That you (all the accused) and others still at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District with intent to carry out a common purpose, did assemble in such a manner by blocking the ongoing Oporoma-Yenagoa road construction with sticks, plantain, juju and palm fronds.”
The women, however, pleaded not guilty and each of them was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety who owned a landed property.
The Presiding Magistrate, A.N. Asuku, adjourned the case till December 6 for continuation.
The women, who are all indigenes of Agobiri community, were arrested during their protest against the alleged exclusion of their community from the list of communities that would benefit from the Oporoma-Yenagoa Road construction project.
They were alleged to have threatened to stop the road project if the administration of Governor Douye Diri did not include their community as a beneficiary of the road project.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 28km road, with several bridges, is being handled by China’s construction giant, CCECC.
The Eagle
BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year The federal government has unveiled…
EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)…
FG gets fresh $134m loan from AfDB for agric projects The Federal Government has secured a…
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)…
We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt…
Edo Gov Okpebholo freezes govt accounts, reverses ministry’s name Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed…