Whistle blowers’ charged for conspiracy to rob Gov Dickson to remain in prison

Five suspects who are being tried by Bayelsa Government for conspiracy to rob Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa at his country home would remain in prison custody till January 31, 2019.

The development followed an adjournment of the trial by Justice E.T Okara after cross examination of prosecution witness by the defense counsels, Julius Eyokoragha and Stanley Damabide.

The five accused persons including a brother to the Artourney-General of Bayelsa Kemasuode Wodu standing trial had been in prison custody since they were arrested in May 2018.

It will be recalled that the accused had earlier told the court that they merely contemplated blow the whistle to disclose a location at Dickson’s home at Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government where cash was being stashed.

The Investigating Police Officer Inspector Ekpang Columba admitting during cross examination that there was actually no weapon found on the accused persons as at the point of their arrest.

 Columba who stood as witness to the case  also admitted during the course of the cross examination at the Sagbamam High Court sitting in Yenagoa said that it was a case of whistle blowing and not armed robbery.

He said “ No weapon was recovered from the offenders  but they were making plans to get weapons but no weapons was recovered from them”. 

 Justice Okara adjourned the case to enable the defense counsels to the accused to cross examine other prosecution witnesses in the trial.

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 suspects planned to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under the whistle blowing policy to earn the commission from the cash haul.

The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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.  

It was gathered that the suspects had targeted the residence of Dickson’s aide on domestic matters who serves are courier in the plan to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but the aide who got wind of the plot alleged that the suspects were conspiring to steal from Dickson to cover his tracks.

Reacting on the proceeding, lead defense counsel to the accused  Damabide,  said that there was no basis for the trial.

“I think we really need to come down hard on a system that is focusing on persecuting instead of prosecution.

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“Innocent men will spend Christmas and new year without their wives and their loved ones. It is sad enough that they are facing this punishment even when looking at larger picture of the case there is no basis for it.

  According to him,  whistle blowing was something that is even encouraged.  

 “It is shame that this prosecution is being sustained up till this stage and those involved should be ashamed of what they are doing,” he said.