Court Remands Three Students Over RSUST Crisis

A high Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Wednesday rejected bail bid of three students arraigned before it for allegedly masterminding protests and violence that led to the closure of Rivers State University of Science and Technology last year.

The court presided over by Hon Justice Simeon Amadi said it was too early to grant bail to Messrs Charles Jaja, Lucky Mercy and Enefa Tele-Georgewill as it was yet to hear the matter fully.

Justice Amadi noted that it would be hasty for the court to grant bail to the suspects, adding ‘we have had a similar case where the court granted bail and  the suspects absconded.

“When we look at all they say, we are all human-being… In cases like this where information has been filed a court can’t look at bail, rather when the matter is heard and witnesses heard, it would determined whether they should be bailed.

Earlier on, state Counsel, Adaba Abbi had informed the court that the state was ready to prosecute the matter to a logical conclusion following delay caused by the transfer of the case from a magistrate court due to lack of jurisdiction,

But counsel to the second accused, Ibinabo Edwin had prayed the court to grant bail to the accused since they have been in custody from December last year.

He said such plea would give room for the enforcement of the fundamental human right of the suspects, adding that the matter had been delayed over time due to lack of  jurisdiction from a lower court, where the suspects were earlier arraigned.

Similarly, counsel to first accused, Ken Asuete had informed the court that their bail application was overdue, since April 16, 2010 when it was filed.

Asuete pleaded that since the three suspects were students and were on the verge of ending their studies in the school, they should be granted bail to write their exams and assured that they would not abscond.

Meanwhile, the suspects, Charlkes Jaja, Lucky Mercy, Enefa Tele-Georgewill have pleaded not guilty to the four charges slammed on them.

Among the four charges, the students were accused of constituting an association tagged Activistwatch, which operated in the form of Secret cult. They were also accused with others at large for constituting students revolutionary council and involved in riotous assembly on October 29, 2009.

They were also accused of destroying the schools’ Senate building and ICT Centre during the cause of the student protests.

The case was adjoured to June 30 for further hearing by Justice Amadi