Rivers: 32 alleged Atiku’s supporters arrested

...Police arraign 21 in court 

*Says we arrested 32 criminal suspects, not Atiku’s loyalists

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command on Sunday arrested 32 persons in the state.

The persons arrested are reported to be members of an Atiku Support Group, who were attending a meeting at a venue in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, in Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that some of the persons were arrested at the venue of the meeting, while others were picked on the street leading to the said venue.

It was gathered that four lawyers, who were among the persons picked in the random arrest were released when lawyers mobilised to stage a protest against the court and the police at the court premises, yesterday.

But spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said police raided black spots in the state and arrest 32 suspected cultists.

However, 21 of the 32 arrested persons were arraigned before a Magistrate's Court sitting in Port Harcourt for conspiracy, cultism, and unlawful gathering.

When the case was mentioned in court, yesterday, Chief Magistrate, Collins Ali, following the fact that the charges were moved as an ex-party application, did not allow the charges to be read or plea taken.

Ali directed that the cases file be transmitted to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice and information.

The Chief Magistrate, who refused bail application by the defence counsel, directed that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and adjourned till March 22, 2023 for bail consideration.

Culled from Vanguard