A High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has ordered that suspected kidnap kingpin, John Lyon, and his gang member, Emmanuel Charles Angase, be remanded in the Okaka Correctional Centre.
John Lyon, with his co-defendant, Emmanuel, were arraigned for high profile kidnap of bankers, businessmen, and prominent Bayelsans.
Lyon, who was among four gang members paraded by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Police Force in September, had denied involvement in kidnap but was only involved to show the residence of their victims.
In Court on Wednesday, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the 14 counts ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, and criminal felony preferred against them.
In view of the plea, the prosecution counsel, Bayelsa State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Apulu Iyabosa, said the briefs of the case were served on the defendant’s counsel and prayed for a trial date.
She said: “They have taken their plea and the matter has been adjourned for hearing on the 5th of December. They pleaded not guilty to the 14-count charge against them. I have served them the brief today in court.
“The reason why we have to delay to this time is because of the flood, and that was why we filed in immediately after the flood receded.”
The counsel to the defendants, Francis Gbaionna said he has not received the statement of charges from the prosecution lawyer, adding that he has no objection to the application.
The presiding judge, Justice Inikade Eradiri, who ruled on the matter, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Okaka Correctional Centre and adjourned the case for hearing to the 5th and 21st December 2022.
