Bayelsa Govt charges ‘whistle blowers’ who discovered cash stacked at Gov Dickson.s residence for conspiracy to rob

Five suspects who allegedly contemplated to disclose a location at Gov Dickson’s country home at Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government are being prosecuted for conspiracy to rob Dickson with arms.

In the statement of prosecution witness filed before the court as proof of evidence, one of the suspects, a construction worker at Dickson’s residence had discovered a room stuffed with cash.

 The suspect planned to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision under the whistle blowing policy to earn the commission from the cash haul.

The accused persons who had pleaded not guilty to the charge and remanded in prison custody on Thursday were in court for the continuation of the trial.

In charge No. SHC/9C/20188 , Esther Engbeke, Tamnatony Jacob, Engr. Wodu Ebikebomu and Sinclair Thursday were charged  with conspiracy to commit armed robbery at Dickson’s residence contrary to Robbery and Firearms Act of 2004.

In the suit filed by Ayebatonye Jumbo Esq, Senior State Counsel, the accused persons in May 2018 in Toru Orua community in Sagbama conspired to rob Henry Seriake Dickson with offensive weapons namely firearms.

In his testimony before the Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa, presided over by Justice E.T Okara Richman Ebipade, a Police Inspector said that the accused persons had procured arms for the proposed operation.

Ebipade had told the court that the accused had in their confessional statements admitted to the plot to rob the Bayelsa governor and had provided money with which to source for the arms.

However under cross examination by Defense Counsel to the accused Mr Julious Iyekoroghe Ebipade, Ebipade who narrated how the accused persons held secret meetings said that the arms they allegedly procured were not recovered.

Following heated arguments between the prosecuting team led By Mr Andrew Arthur and defence counsel, trial judge Justice advised the counsels to present their points in line with the rules of the court and save the time of the court..

Justice Okara adjourned the case to December 6 for continuation of hearing