Hmm! Politician Arraigned In Court For Alleged Rape Arrives In A Stretcher

There was mild confusion, yesterday, at a Bayelsa High Court in Yenagoa, after a former Security Adviser to ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva, being tried for alleged rape, arrived on a stretcher.

Perekeme Richard Kpodo had been accused of raping and detaining one Teke Blessing on June 20, at his hostel. On July 27, he was arraigned and remanded in prison custody till Aug. 10 for ruling on his bail application.

However, he arrived at court, yesterday, on a stretcher. The judge, on sighting him in an ambulance, ordered the prison officials to return him to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa where he had been receiving treatment.

The case later continued in his absence and he was denied bail. Justice E. Eradiri, said that the bail application, based on medical grounds, did not indicate that the accused was not getting adequate medical attention from prison.

He noted that he denied him bail based on the nature of the charge which, on conviction, attracts life imprisonment. He then adjourned the case to Sept. 21, for the commencement of trial.