Bayelsa politician remanded in prison over alleged rape

A politician in Bayelsa State, Chief Perekeme Richard Kpodo, has been arraigned at State High Court 7 in Yenagoa for alleged rape and unlawful detention of one Teke Blessing on June 20, 2018.

Chief Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, was earlier arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Yenagoa for the same offence and was remanded in prison custody pending August 10 ruling on his bail application.

Though the Court had denied the accused bail application and ordered him to remain in prison custody till September when the case comes up again.

Kpodo, who allegedly committed the offence at his De-Rich Hotels at Tombia, Yenagoa, was re-arraigned on Friday before the Justice E. Eradiri on two counts charges of unlawful detention and rape.

According to the two charges filed by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), the accused had on June 20, 2018 at Etegwe, Yenagoa, unlawfully detained one Blessing with an intention to defile her.

The second charge indicated that the accused had later on the same day raped the victim. The trial judge on sighting the accused, who was brought to court in an ambulance ordered the prison officials to return him to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa where he has been receiving medical care after he had collapsed in court.

Ruling on the bail application filed by Counsel to the accused Julius Iyekoroghe Esq, Justice Eradiri, said that the bail application which was based on medical grounds did not indicate that the accused was not getting adequate medical attention from prison.

He said that the Court’s denial of accused bail was guided by the grievous nature of the charge which on conviction attracted life imprisonment.

The matter was adjourned to September 21, 2018 for commencement of trial. The victim has already lined up 12 witnesses to testify against the accused when the trial begins on September. Teke