Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
A Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded the former managing director of Rivers state Micro Finance Agency, Dr IPALIBO SOGULES and three other head of the agency for conspiracy and advanced fee fraud.
The four defendants Ipalibo Walson Sogules, Nimi Harry, Ukele Okorji and Sofiri Koko are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and advanced fee fraud of over thirteen million naira.
When the case was called up in court, the defence counsel prayed to the court to grant the defendants bail as they have no records of conviction and urged the court to consider other options, quoting section 165 of the Rivers state administration of criminal justice law.
The counsels also drew the attention of the court to the COVID-19 pandemic protocol and the medical history of the 1st and fourth defendants being hypertensive.
In his argument, the prosecuting counsel, Chidi Ekeh asked the court to remand the defendants based on the two charges brought before the court.
Chidi Ekeh noted that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The Chief Magistrate A O Amadi-Nna after listening to the arguments of the lawyers in the suit remanded IPALIBO SOGULES and the three others at the Swift Operation Squad SOS police station due to COVID-19 protocol.
The Chief Magistrate during his ruling also declined jurisdiction in the matter and said the defendants should be arraign at the federal high court.
The Chief Magistrate also orders the case file to be sent to the department of public prosecution DPP for legal advice and proper arraignment.
Our correspondent reports that the case was adjourned to the 6th of July 2020.
Meanwhile, the state prosecuting counsel CHIDI EKEH said they would be properly arraign the defendants at the appropriate court of jurisdiction.
He also said that the defendants were remanded because the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
