A businessman, Tonye Okio, spent his Christmas
and will start the New Year at a Bayelsa prison for
allegedly criticizing the Bayelsa State governor,
Seriake Dickson, on his Facebook account.
Mr. Okio, who was also a former Abuja Liaison
officer for Bayelsa State, was arrested on October
26 at his Abuja residence.
He was subsequently blindfolded and driven to
Bayelsa by the Special Investigation Bureau, SIB.
The police also stripped Mr. Okio of his mobile
gadgets and all postings on his Facebook account,
‘Tonye Okio’, about Mr. Dickson was deleted.
Two days after his arrest, the Bayelsa police
released a statement that Mr. Okio was arrested for
seditious publications against the Bayelsa governor.
“This is to inform the general public and the good
people of Bayelsa State in particular that the
Bayelsa police command has succeeded in
apprehending one Tonye Okio ‘M’ of Otiokpoti, Ogbia
Local Government Area, Bayelsa State for the
offence of seditious publications.
“The suspects whose syndicate members are now
at large will be appropriately arraigned in court
when investigation is complete,” the police said.
The police then detained Mr. Okio for 10 days
without trial. Mr. Okio’s lawyer subsequently filed a
case at a Bayelsa High Court demanding his
fundamental rights be obeyed and he be charged to
court if he has indeed done anything wrong.
A day before his fundamental rights case was to be
heard, the police on November 5charged the victim
before a Magistrate Court for defamatory
publication against the Bayelsa governor.
After taking his plea, the Magistrate Court adjourned
the case to November 21 for trial.
When the case came up on November, 21, the
magistrate court granted Mr. Okio, an aide to ex-
Bayelsa governor, Timipriye Sylva, bail in what a
civil society activist described as ‘ridiculous
conditions.’
The bail conditions included N5 million with one
surety in like sum who must be a permanent
secretary in the state and resident within the
court’s jurisdiction.
Following the ruling, the victim’s lawyer, Doueyi
Fiderikumo, prayed the court that it would be
impossible to satisfy the condition because the
complainant was the state governor who he
suspected must have threatened most permanent
secretaries in the state.
Sources close to the Bayelsa State government also
told PREMIUM TIMES that no permanent secretary
under the state’s employ dare stand as surety for
Mr. Okio out of fear of the governor.
Although an application was filed at the Nembe
Division of the Bayelsa High Court in the state to
demand a variation in the bail conditions, the court
reportedly fixed three consecutive days for hearing
and was unable sit on any of those days.
A ruling on the review of bail application was slated
for December but was again adjourned by the
presiding judge, J. Buofini.
On the said date, the judge through the court’s
registrar notified counsels that the ruling on the bail
review application was not ready; and therefore the
case was adjourned tillJanuary 20.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/152138-man-
detained-two-months-allegedly-criticising-
bayelsa-governor-facebook.html
and will start the New Year at a Bayelsa prison for
allegedly criticizing the Bayelsa State governor,
Seriake Dickson, on his Facebook account.
Mr. Okio, who was also a former Abuja Liaison
officer for Bayelsa State, was arrested on October
26 at his Abuja residence.
He was subsequently blindfolded and driven to
Bayelsa by the Special Investigation Bureau, SIB.
The police also stripped Mr. Okio of his mobile
gadgets and all postings on his Facebook account,
‘Tonye Okio’, about Mr. Dickson was deleted.
Two days after his arrest, the Bayelsa police
released a statement that Mr. Okio was arrested for
seditious publications against the Bayelsa governor.
“This is to inform the general public and the good
people of Bayelsa State in particular that the
Bayelsa police command has succeeded in
apprehending one Tonye Okio ‘M’ of Otiokpoti, Ogbia
Local Government Area, Bayelsa State for the
offence of seditious publications.
“The suspects whose syndicate members are now
at large will be appropriately arraigned in court
when investigation is complete,” the police said.
The police then detained Mr. Okio for 10 days
without trial. Mr. Okio’s lawyer subsequently filed a
case at a Bayelsa High Court demanding his
fundamental rights be obeyed and he be charged to
court if he has indeed done anything wrong.
A day before his fundamental rights case was to be
heard, the police on November 5charged the victim
before a Magistrate Court for defamatory
publication against the Bayelsa governor.
After taking his plea, the Magistrate Court adjourned
the case to November 21 for trial.
When the case came up on November, 21, the
magistrate court granted Mr. Okio, an aide to ex-
Bayelsa governor, Timipriye Sylva, bail in what a
civil society activist described as ‘ridiculous
conditions.’
The bail conditions included N5 million with one
surety in like sum who must be a permanent
secretary in the state and resident within the
court’s jurisdiction.
Following the ruling, the victim’s lawyer, Doueyi
Fiderikumo, prayed the court that it would be
impossible to satisfy the condition because the
complainant was the state governor who he
suspected must have threatened most permanent
secretaries in the state.
Sources close to the Bayelsa State government also
told PREMIUM TIMES that no permanent secretary
under the state’s employ dare stand as surety for
Mr. Okio out of fear of the governor.
Although an application was filed at the Nembe
Division of the Bayelsa High Court in the state to
demand a variation in the bail conditions, the court
reportedly fixed three consecutive days for hearing
and was unable sit on any of those days.
A ruling on the review of bail application was slated
for December but was again adjourned by the
presiding judge, J. Buofini.
On the said date, the judge through the court’s
registrar notified counsels that the ruling on the bail
review application was not ready; and therefore the
case was adjourned tillJanuary 20.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/152138-man-
detained-two-months-allegedly-criticising-
bayelsa-governor-facebook.html
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