Tina Amanda
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded four suspects, Praise Gelson, Tamunoala Alatoru, Usman Garba and Christian Mbaeri in prison custody for allegedly breaking into the house of former First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan and stealing valuables worth one hundred million naira.
The suspects who face five-count charge bothering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and attempted murder, were said to have unlawfully broken into the former First Lady’s residence located at 2 Bauchi street, Old GRA Port Harcourt, on 21 September 2022, made away with items worth millions of naira.
The suspects after listening to the count charges read out to them in court pleaded not guilty to the offences.
However, Dimabo Karibo Counsel representing the 2nd Defendant Tamunoala Alatoru applied for the bail application of his client, but the prosecution Counsel O.M Umana informed the court that he has just been served the bail application.
The presiding Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli after listening to Counsel in the matter said he will give a speedy and fair trial on the case as his court is already congested.
The Court declined consideration of the bail application and ordered the Counsel in question to do the needful for an acceleration of hearing on the bail application, thereby adjourned to 4,6,8, 18 November 2022, for hearing and remanded the four suspects in Port Harcourt prison.
In an interview with our correspondent Dimabo Karibo Counsel representing the 2nd Defendant, said the charges against his client are Trump up charges.
“Before the Defendants took their plea we made the court know about an order we got from Isiokpo High Court in IKwerre local government area for fundamental enforcement that was filed on the 18, an order was given by the court on the 24 October 2022, we showed the court and the court said it can ahead with the matter. Which the law allows.
“They took the plea we had our motion ripe where we attached all the court orders and production warrant only given by the Isiokpo High Court, but the court said that the police have the right to respond as well as other parties in the matter
“My client the 2nd Defendant is a domestic staff to the former First Lady, she has been working for her for over ten years. There was a stealing that occured by the first Defendant in his proof of evidence he confessed right from the Old GRA Police Division that he acted alone.
“They took the matter from Old GRA Police station to the State CID and FCID where he also said he acted alone, we are surprised to see trump-up charges of armed robbery. As the court has said it will give us an accelerated hearing so that it can determine the matter in almost one month.
“We would go to court and by the grace of God there will be victory”.
