From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
The two pilots arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, for contravening the Executive Order signed by the Rivers State Governor to check the spread of coronavirus are being detained at the State Government Facility for the protection of inmates of Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
In a statement on Thursday, the Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor said that the pilots were moved to the facility after he obtained a variation order from the Magistrate Court.
The statement read: “Whilst the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State would ordinarily not want to discuss on radio any matter pending before a Court of competent jurisdiction, it has become necessary to correct the misinformation being circulated by some radio commentators that the two Carveton Helicopters Pilots arraigned before the Chief Magistrates Court, Port Harcourt, on Monday, 7April, 2020 are being remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
“The truth of the matter is that the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State applied for and obtained a variation Order from the Chief Magistrate Court, Port Harcourt changing the place of remand from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre to any Rivers State Government-owned facility or building including Delta Hotels, GRA Port Harcourt.
“Based on that Order of variation of the remand Order, the two pilots are being remanded at Delta Hotels, Old 66, Port Harcourt and are attended to regularly by medical personnel attached to the Rivers State COVID-19 medical team”.
The statement added: “For the avoidance of doubt, want to restate that none of the two Pilots spent a second at the Port Harcourt Correctional centre.
“The Rivers State Government cares about the health and Safety of all Rivers people and residents inclining the inmates at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre”.
