Rivers crisis: 120 arrested protesters arraigned, get bail

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has granted bail to 120 youths who were arrested during a protest in the capital city on Tuesday.The youth allegedly invaded the official residence of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, following the political crisis in the state.But on Wednesday, the youth, including the state Chairman, National Youths Council of Nigeria, Chijioke Ihunwo, were arraigned on five counts of conspiracy, causing a riot, damaging the house gate of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, unlawful assembly and causing breach of public peace.The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.The Magistrate, Gift Amadi, granted them bail.They were giving a bail condition of N100,000 to all those arrested as Amadi adjourned the matter till December 5, 2023, for trial.Speaking to journalists  outside the courtroom, counsel for the defendants,  Higher King, said what happened in court was a malicious prosecution.King said, “What transpired in court is what I will call malicious prosecution because people have a constitutional right to protest and express their anger.“They were rounded up by the Nigeria Police – something that we thought has ended. About 121 of them were brought to court this morning and they couldn’t even sustain their charges.“As God will have it and the law too, they have been granted bail. We are presently perfecting the bail, and they will go home today. It is a bailable offence.”