Court Remands Farah Dagogo In Police Custody

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded the lawmaker representing Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency, Hon Farah Dagogo, in police custody for conspiracy and instigating cult activities.
The Defendant, Farah Dagogo, was arraigned in court on two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and instigating cult activities, filed against him by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.
During the court proceeding, counsel representing the Defendant opposed to the arraignment and application made by the prosecution counsel for the Defendant to take his plea in court.
The Defence counsel, S. B. Datubo, insisted before the court that the prosecution did not comply with the provisions of Section 300 Sub-2 and Section 3B of the Practice Direction of the Rivers State Magistrate Court Number 7, 2002, as the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Defence counsel argued further that in regards to the above sections of the law, the prosecution ought to have come with application of exparte for a remand which was not complied with.
The presiding Magistrate, Chief Magistrate Amadi Nna, after listening to arguments of counsel, agreed with the Defence counsel, and asked the prosecution to do the needful, thereafter remanded the Defendant, Farah Dagogo in police custody, and adjourned the case to May 9, 2022.
In an interview with newsmen, Defence Counsel, S. B. Datubo, said the charge against their client was above the threshold of what the Magistrate Court can carry.
Also, the Prosecution Counsel from the Department of Public Prosecution, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Chidi Ekeh, said the Defendant did not take his plea because some sections of the law were not complied with.