Re-run: DSS arraigns Rivers SSG, APC chieftain

The Department of State Security, DSS, Tuesday evening arraigned the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, SSG, Mr Kenneth Kobani, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku, at a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over alleged conducts during the last rerun elections in the state. The prosecution said their conducts constituted threats to public peace. Kobani and others at large, were charged for an alleged offence punishable by the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011. Kobani however, pleaded not guilty to the three count charge. The charges read in part: That you, Kenneth Kobani with others at large on or about March 3, 2016 at a meeting held in your residence at Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area did conspire to carry out activities that could cause the breach of the peace and break down of law and order on March 19, 2016, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code. Count two stated that the accused and others at large on or about March 19, 2016 at INEC office, Gokana Local Government Area, conducted himself in a manner that caused the breach of peace by leading and instructing his followers to barricade the entrance of the INEC office, thereby preventing officials of the commission and other ad-hoc staff from discharging their duties and causing stampede in the vicinity, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 d of the Criminal Code. “Count three alleged that on or about March 19, 2016 at the premises of INEC office, Gokana LGA did hold Mr James Simon, an official of the commission and other ad-hoc staff hostage until their eventual rescue by security personnel, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011. Kobani pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Justice Liman Mohammed later granted him bail on self recognition and adjourned the matter till June 15 for hearing. Kobani, an Ogoni indigene is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state. On his part, Wanjoku who was the APC candidate for Ikwerre State House of Assembly Constituency seat in the rerun election, was charged for falsely accusing the Ikwerre INEC Electoral Officer, Mr Kingsley Osifu, of collecting money from him to disrupt public order and security, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code. Wanjoku was also alleged to have obstructed a public officer from discharging his official duty, an act also punishable under the Criminal Code.