Andoni Militant Leader Knows Fate June 17

The fate of a militant leader in the Andoni axis of Rivers State, George Adumu is still hanging in the balance as a High Court in Port Harcourt has set next month (June) for ruling on his matter.

The court presided by Justice Boma Diepiri on Monday, heard fresh plea from Adumu’s attorney,  Alhaji A. Oso, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who urged the court to quash the matter following the amnesty declared by the federal government last year.

Alhaji Oso argued that section 36, subsection 10 of the Nigerian Constitution provides a coverage for the militant leader coupled with the peculiar circumstances in which he was arraigned.

The learned counsel argued that the pardon granted by the federal authorities last year was enough to grant Adumu freedom adding that, “amnesty is interchangeable with pardon”, hence the need to strike out the matter.

But state counsel, Barrister Emmanuel Aguma (Jnr), pleaded the court to look into the matter thoroughly as Adumu’s purported crime was not against the state but on ordinary citizens.

Barrister Aguma told the court that it would be wrong to free the militant leader whose alleged activities posed great danger to society, as he committed series of criminal activities.

After hearing pleas of both lawyers Justice Diepiri adjourned the matter for ruling on 17th June.

It would be recalled that Adumu was arrested last year by the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) following public outcry.

He was arraigned in court with others at large on suit no PHC/337/2010 for conspiracy, murder, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms between 17th day of April 2008 at Oyorokoto, a fishing port in Andoni Local Government Area of the state.

In another related matter, suit no PHC/348/2010, Justice Diepiri has reduced the number of charges against the militant leader from 21 to 18.