A Magistrate Court in Rivers State has ordered the remand of Saviour Robert in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre over allegations of attempting to murder Chief Gani Topba, the Leader of Conscience of Ogoni People, in 2023.
Chief Magistrate Sotonye Harry issued the remand order based on an ex parte application contained in a remand warrant presented by the prosecution. The prosecution cited Section 300 of the Supreme Court of Justice Nigeria Act as grounds for the remand.
During the court session on Tuesday, the prosecution apprised the court of the remand warrant, emphasizing that the case involves charges of attempted murder, cultism, and other related offenses under the criminal laws of the state, particularly pursuant to Section 320 of the Criminal Code of Rivers State Administration of Justice.
The police prosecutor further explained that the application, supported by a one-page affidavit filed by Inspector Stephen from the Anti-Cultism Unit on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, was necessitated by the ongoing trials of other defendants implicated in the same offense.
Chief Magistrate Sotonye Harry, after hearing the prosecution, declined to allow the defense counsel to announce her appearance and instead directed the remand of the accused in prison. She also instructed that the case file be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and scheduled the next hearing for May 2, 2024.