The police accused the defendants and others now at large, of breaching relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, has arraigned three persons over their alleged involvement in violence during the March 18, 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
The police arraigned the three suspects, namely, Udeh Henry Chukwuedo (32), Dike Onyekahi Samuel (27) and Rabbi Godwin Nana (29), at a Chief Magistrate Court in Asaba, the state capital with charge number marked CMA/103c/2023, with the commissioner of police, as complainant, in a four-count charge.
The police accused the defendants and others now at large, of breaching relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.
One of the counts read as follows, "The defendants and others now at large, had on March 18, 2023 at Ogwashi-Uku in the Ogwashi-Uku Magisterial District but triable in Asaba, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: being in possession of live cartridges during the conduct of the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 121(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
"The defendants and others at large, were accused of being in possession of three live cartridges during the elections, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 126(f) of the Electoral Act, 2022. Damaging ballot boxes and ballot papers during the elections, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 126(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022. Inflicting harm on "one Okolo Victor 'm' by cutting him with cutlass on his head in order for him to refrain from voting in the election, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 128(b) of the Electoral Act, 2022."
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and thereafter following oral application by the defence counsel, V.O. Agu who argued that the offence is bailable, the presiding Magistrate, C.I. Moeteke however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in like sum.
The case was thereafter adjourned till May 9, 2023 for further hearing.