Cultism: Court Denies Ex-Rivers LG Chairman Bail

A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has denied bail to a former chairman of Khana local government area of the state, Sunny Bekanwah, who is standing trial for alleged sponsorship of cultism and murder of one Dr. Lucky Kinain.

The trial judge, Hon. Justice Daketima Kio, declined the bail while ruling on the bail application instituted by Bekanwah, in his bid to secure temporary freedom while his trial continued.

It would be recalled that Barikui Henry Deele and Bekanwa were arrested and charged to court following the confessionary statement of a suspected cultist, who had fingered the duo in their activities.

The Commissioner of Police in the state had instituted the case in suit number PHC/3474/CR/2023, against the duo with Barikui Henry Deele as first defendant and Sunny Bekanwa as second defendant before Justice I.B.C. Igwe.

Counsel for Bekanwah, Kennedy Amos Simeon, had applied for bail of the defendants before Justice Igwe.

In the quest to secure freedom for the accused persons, their counsel dragged the Rivers State Government (Attorney General of the State) and the Inspector General of Police to another court of coordinate jurisdiction with the trial court, with a bail application, stating that Bekanwah was not properly arraigned