.We have no hand in former Security Adviser’s rape travails – Bayelsa Govt
Kpodo
Chief Perekeme Richard Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva, on Tuesday collapsed while being rearranged for alleged rape at State High Court 7 in Yenagoa.
It would be recalled that Kpodo was on Friday arraigned before a Magistrate court in Yenagoa for the same offence and was remanded in prison custody till August 10 for ruling on his bail application.
Kpodo was charged on a two counts of unlawful detention and rape of one Teke Blessing on june 20, 2018.
Kpodoh collapsed in the dock after pleading not guilty to the charge causing confusion amongst prison, court officials and other litigants as the court proceedings was temporarily suspended.
It took the combined efforts f prison officials and other litigants in court to assist and revive and stabilse the former security Adviser
When the proceedings resumed, after twenty minutes interval Counsel to the accused Julius Iyekoroghe made an oral bail application, highlighting the fragile health condition of his client. .
“Yesterday I visited him in the prison as a result of his failing health, he was diagnosed and his blood pressure shot up drastically out of range to about 200 systolic 150 diastolic we ask that we take a bill application or a short adjournment.
“We pray the court to direct that he should be granted access to his doctors at the Federal Medical Center Yenagoa or a private medical facility of his choice because he has been on a very long management of his health.
“He has a history of liver and kidney issues in addition to being hypertensive he had once travelled to India for kidney and lungs related issues and we document to show,” Iyekoroghe said.
However, the trial judge, Justice E Eradiri, ruled that the Prison officials should take the accused to any government health facility of his choice.
He urged the defence counsel to file a signed bail of application and adjourned the case to August 3, for ruling on the bail application.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government on Monday distanced itself from the travails of a former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva, Richard Kpodo who was arraigned for rape on Friday.
Kpodo, was on Friday docked before a Magistrates’ Court in Yenagoa, for alleged rape.
The accused was charged with two counts of unlawfully detaining one Teke Blessing on June 20 at Etegwe, Yenagoa, and subsequent rape of the victim.
However, Counsel to Kpodo , Mr Julius Iyekoroghe,had dismissed the allegations as a ploy by the Bayelsa government to silence his client who is a vocal critic of the Gov Seriake Dickson led government.
“The Police are trying to frame up Chief Kpodo. The case of alleged rape that they are trying to use occurred last year in which a girl came to the Richpark Hotel at Etegwe and stole some money.
“Chief Kpodo asked his workers to report the case at Akenfa police station because he was on his way outside the State. “
“Out of embarrassment,the suspect went to the Ekeki Police Station and lodged a case of Rape to blackmail the hotel and the owner.
“But when the truth came up, the girl and her family withdrew their case. Now, in their desperate bid to hang Chief Kpodo by all means, the police are searching for the girl and the case details.
“This is a democracy and the act of the police against some critical views by a politician is unacceptable and a violation of his right as a Nigerian,” Iyekoroghe said.
Reacting to the allegations that the prosecution was politically motivated to silence Kpodo, a critic, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said on Monday that the claims are false and baseless.
“Richard Kpodo is on his own. His attempt to politicize and robe government in this matter will not fly.
“As the saying goes, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime”. This should come as a warning to others who derive pleasure in raping our women and young girls.
“Don’t do it and then end up blaming someone else or the devil for an act you voluntary and deliberately committed with absolute disregard for the law and its consequences simply because you are a “big or powerful man”.
“In every life, there will always come a day of reckoning,” Iworiso-Markson said.
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