Three Traditional Rulers Appear In Court For Malicious Damage

Three traditional rulers from Akpor village in Mgbuosimini Rumuolumeni Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been arraigned before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court for malicious damage and other criminal offences.

The accused persons, Chief Eugene Akani, 60, Chief Christopher Chinda, 68, and Chief Christian Chinda, 49 are standing trial before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate  court resided over by E.C. Woke on a three count charge.

The Tide learnt that the accused persons sometime in January 2011 at Akpor village in Mgbuosimini Rumuolumini did conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace in the community by obstructing and denying one Chief  Miniru Akarufe Adua access into his land he bought from one Patience Okaechi Chinda from the community in 2005.

The Tide further learnt that the accused persons later re sold the piece of land to another buyer claiming that the piece of land bought by the claimant was their community juju land and was sacred for non indigenes to enter.

The prosecuting police officer, Sergeant Adiani Idafitold the court that the accused persons  in January 2011 within the jurisdiction of the Port Harcourt Magisterial district did conspire among themselves to commit a misdemeanor to wit; malicious damage.

The Police prosecution further told the court that the accused person on the same date and place did damage or destroyed one padlock property of one Chief Miniru Akarufe Adua valued at five thousand Naira, only.

The Police prosecutor averred that the accused persons have committed an offence punishable under section 516 A (a), 451 and 249 (d) of the criminal code Cap 37 Vol, 11 laws of Rivers State 1999.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the three count charges brought against them.

In his ruling, the presiding chief magistrate, E.C. Woke after taken the plea of the accused persons granted them bail with N500,000, one surety each with four passports in like sum and must have an evidence of means of which would be verified by the prosecutor. The case was later adjourned to 27th June 2012 for further hearing.