IPOB sit-at-hime: Four in court over alleged arson

Four persons have been arraigned before a chief magistrate court in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital for allegedly setting ablaze a Mercedes Benz vehicle valued at N6 million.

The vehicle with Registration number, AH 483 ABM, property of one Chilaka Michael was among the nine other commercial trucks burnt by the accused persons in the attack.

The suspects are Anieti Jacob 34, Okpara Okechukwu 25, Gentle George 21 and Maduabuchi Nwokafor.

They are charged with three count charge bothering on arson and treasonable felony punishable by death or imprisonment, if convicted.

The accused persons allegedly committed the crime at Oyigbo express road junction of the state, during the sit-at-home protest declared by the outlawed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), September 14, 2018.

The prosecutor, Inspector Wilson Isaiah told the court that their offence contravenes sections 516 A (1), 41 (c) and 443 (a) of the criminal code, cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The charge was not however read out to them, neither were they allowed to take plea.

Apart from one of the accused person that had legal representation, others were not represented by any lawyer.

The presiding Magistrate, Sokari Andrew Jaja ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till December 20, 2018 for hearing.