Godson Godson Nwosu

A non-governmental organization known as Legal Care Advocacy Foundation has commenced legal proceedings against the Rivers State government, the Commissioner of Police in the state, and the Deputy Comptroller, Maximum Security Custodian Centre Port Harcourt over the continued incarceration of more than a hundred inmates.

The NGO is in court to demand the release of the inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional centers because some have spent more than ten years without trial, arraignment, and or advice from the directorate of public prosecution.

When the matter was mentioned before, Justice Haribaba Dagogo jack after listening to the applicant’s lawyer, ordered that a hearing notice be served on the three respondents before adjourning the case to the 14th of October 2022 for hearing.

Counsel to the NGO, Chudidi who spoke to Journalists shortly after the court proceedings explained the that his client took the legal action to help write the wrongs against the people.

He said those in detention have spent more than the required number of years in detention and should be allowed to enjoy their freedom.

A three-storey building on Wednesday collapsed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The building is situated at bende road old Port Harcourt township axis. As the time of this report, no life was lost, but properties and goods worth millions of naira were damaged.

Some parts of the building where people reside and shops used for business also collapsed. The building is one of many old structures in the Old Port Harcourt Township that residents often describe as a time bomb.

Speaking to journalists a resident of the area, said a part of the building had collapsed before and residents refused to vacate from it, in defiance to warnings. He however blamed the state government, adding if government had taken over the building and forced residents to vacate it, this situation would have been avoided.

This part of Port Harcourt hosts quite a number of aged buildings that require government urgent attention to avoid a repeat of this incident. Investigation shows that some of the buildings were built during the colonial days.

A Federal High court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued a warrant against Controller General of Correctional Center to produce the Governorship Aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State, Farah Dagogo who had earlier been granted bail by the court.

When Farah Dagogo was brought to court on the order of the court, the representative of Correctional Center informed the court of process of bail by Dagogo which he promised to fulfill within a hour.

Justice E. A. Obile, the Presiding Judge, expressed displeasure over the disobedience to court orders and directed official of the correctional facility to obey the order of the court.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, counsel to Farah, Innocent Ekwu after explaining what transpired in court, said he will not fail to file contempt of court proceedings against Nigeria Correctional Center should they fail to release his client at the end of today.

Responding to question about the ongoing trial at the state high court, EKWU said there’s nothing wrong for his client to be granted bail by the courts of competent jurisdiction and continue his trial from home since the charges against him are bail-able.

He also added that the bail will enable his political ambition.

It will interest you to know that bail application for Farah Dagogo who is facing two counts of conspiracy and cultism is adjourned to Wednesday, 25th of May, 2022.