Magistrate Linda Ogodo made the remand order on Tuesday, for lack of jurisdiction in the charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and murder preferred against Okorie brought before her.
An Ebonyi State Magistrate Court has remanded in prison, the Labour Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial district, Linus Okorie.
Magistrate Linda Ogodo made the remand order on Tuesday, for lack of jurisdiction in the charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and murder preferred against Okorie brought before her.
The Labour Party Senatorial Candidate was charged on April 5, 2022, for conspiring among others to commit a felony to murder, promoting inter-communal war and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A of Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 volume 1 Law of Ebonyi 2009.
The count charges No. MAB/574/2022 against Okorie and others at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magistrate district, unlawfully caused the death of Mr Donatus Okoro.
The offence is punishable under section 319 of the criminal code law, Cap 33 vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi 2009.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, Okorie's lead Counsel, Chikodili Nome, alleged that the intention of the charges against his client was to keep him behind bar, weaken him and his supporters in the forthcoming February election.
Nome also alleged that the state government was resorting to self-help.
According to him, some charges are within the magistrate's jurisdiction to entertain and grant bail.
He said, “We have seen details of the charges. What happened here today is abuse to judicial proceedings.
“Anyone who is not comfortable with the judgement should go to court of Appeal and not to resort to self-help,” Nome said.
The court ordered the remand of the defendants at the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice and adjourned the matter to November 4, 2022.
SaharaReporters had reported that the State security outfit otherwise known as Ebubeagu had on Sunday abducted the former lawmaker who is contending the Ebonyi South Senatorial district with the incumbent governor, David Umahi, who is contesting the seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
There has been outrage over Okorie's arrest as analysts saw his arrest as political motivated.
Initially, when the report of his abduction filtered in the air, the police claimed he was not in their custody, but later on Monday in what appeared as a twist, the police issued a statement that the former lawmaker was in its custody.
It consequently advised Ebubeagu to handover anyone arrested for whatever offence to the police immediately thereafter.