…The two Pilots and the 10 Passengers are now discharged and acquitted of all criminal charges
By Ibrahim Bakare
The Rivers State Government by the directive of the State Governor Nyesom Wike through the Attorney-General Prof. Zacheus Adango, has withdrawn and discontinued the two separate charges.
The charges which were contained in charge sheet numbers ( PMC/532C/2020 and PMC/533C/2020) preferred against the two pilots of Caverton Helicopters Ltd and the 10 passengers on board before the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrates’ Court.
In Government press statement signed by Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications said that consequently upon withdrawal of the charges, the presiding Chief Magistrate, D. D. Ihua-Maduenyi Esq; has struck out the two charges and discharged all the defendants.
The saga of Caverton helicopter started on Tuesday April 7, when Governor in the company of immediate past Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura and other service Commanders arrested two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots and the passengers for flying into the State during Coronavirus lockdown.
The two pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari, were remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre but later kept at the Delta Hotel Port Harcourt on Tuesday, April 8.
Management of Caverton Helicopters wrote to the Federal Government to rescue its pilots from Wike who arrested and prosecuted them in court for doing a legal duty.
The Court presided over by Chief Magistrate D.D . Ihua-Maduenyi remanded the two pilots at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre till May 19, 2020 when their trial will commence.
Chief Magistrate Ihua-Maduenyi ruled that COVID-19 tests be carried out on the two pilots ascertain their status.
The Pilots who were arrested by the Rivers State Police Command were arraigned by the State Police Command via charge number: PMC/532C/2020.
Prosecution Counsel and Officer-in-charge, Legal of the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Gladys Amadi had during the trial, told the court that the acts of the two pilots were capable of putting the entire State in danger of contracting Coronavirus.
