Kpodo
Chief Richard Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva was on Friday arraigned before a Magistrates court in Yenagoa for unlawful detention and rape.
According to the two charges filed by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), the accused had on June 20 2018 at Etegwe, Yenagoa, unlawfully detained Teke Blessing with an intention to defile her.
The second charge indicated that the accused had later on the same day raped the victim.
The accused who was in Police custody pleaded not guilty to the two count charge, while the bail application by his counsel Funilaifa Seibokuro was opposed dy th Prosecuting Counsel Ayibatonye Jumbo.
Seibokuro had submitted that the offence for which Kpodo was being arraigned was a bailable one and assured that his client, a well known politician will be available to face trial.
He added that Kpodo had medical challenges and should be granted bail on self recognition.
Counsel to the DPP in opposing the bail argued that if granted bail, the accused would interfere and influence the prosecution witness and hence jeopardise prosecution by the state.
He faulted the claim by counsel to the accused that the accused had medical challenge as these was no medical report to support the claim.
The court, presided over by Mrs E.T.M Ere adjourned the case to August 10, 2018 for ruling on the bail application and remanded the accused in prison custody.
Meanwhile, Kpodo said outside the court premises that he was being victimised for criticising Gov Seriake Dickson’s leadership style with frequent travels.
“This trial is politically motivated, the case was reported in June to Police, the person in question made the allegation as a tool of blackmail to cover up a fraud allegation of N500,000.and the case was withdrawn when the family apologised to me.
“But the government has ben mounting pressure on the girl to come up and the girl spoke on phone to my hearing that the matter is closed.
“Only yesterday more than 30 policemen came to arrest me on the orders of Governor Dickson because I spoke out against his government, I shall not be intimidated, I am not going to keep quiet.
“The battle has just begun, their plan is to keep me out of circulation so close to the political season, but I shall overcome, and they know that I have so much to speak on,” Kpodo said.
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