The Rivers State Government has withdrawn charges preferred against two pilots of Caverton Helicopters and their 10 passengers.
The Rivers State Attorney-General, Zacchaeus Adangor withdrew and discontinued the two separate charges ( PMC/532C/2020 and PMC/533C/2020) preferred against the two pilots and 10 passengers.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, D. D. Ihua-Maduenyi struck out the two charges and discharged all the defendants.
The arrest of the two pilots and their subsequent remands on Tuesday 7th of April by a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court led to a face-off between Wike’s administration and the federal government.
The pilots, Mr Samuel Ugorji and Mr Samuel Buhari were accused of intentionally disobeying the Executive Order issued by Gov Nyesom Wike, in its bid to checkmate the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Prosecution Counsel and Officer-in-charge, Legal of the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Gladys Amadi, while arraigning the suspects before Chief Magistrate D.D. Ihua-Maduenyi, argued that they were capable of putting the entire state in danger of contracting coronavirus.
She urged the court to remand them in prison custody to enable the police conclude its investigation, noting that allowing the accused persons roam the streets will endanger others in the state.
According to her, remanding the pilots will also stop them from further violating the Executive Order.
