Three arraigned in Asaba for alleged electoral violence

Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ari Alli, has arraigned three persons at Chief Magistrate’s Court in Asaba for alleged involvement in violence during the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The accused persons include Udeh Henry Chukwuedo (32), Dike Onyekahi Samuel (27) and Rabbi Godwin Nana (29).

The Commissioner of Police accused the defendants of breaching relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In count one, the defendants were said to have on March 18, 2023 at “Ogwashi-Uku in the Ogwashi-Uku Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: being in possession of live cartridges during the conduct of governorship and state House of Assembly elections and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 121(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

In count II, 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.

They were also accused of damaging ballot boxes and ballot papers during the elections, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 126(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

They are also facing accused of inflicting harm on “one Okolo Victor ‘m’ by cutting him with a cutlass on his head 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.

Presiding Magistrate, C.I. Moeteke, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in like sum.

The bail was granted by the court following oral application by the defence counsel, V.O. Agu, who argued that the offence is available.

The court thereafter adjourned the case till May 9.