Legal Aid Council Secures Freedom For 3 People In Bayelsa

The Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa says it secured the discharge of three indigent suspects in the last one week.
Mr. Eddy Inenevwo, Coordinator of the council in Bayelsa told our correspondent on Wednesday in Yenagoa that the council was committed to providing free legal service to indigent people.
He noted the three acquittals were achieved in less than six months from when the suspects were charged to court, adding that closing out the cases within the timeframe was remarkable.
He said that the council defended Christopher Birigene, 28, who was arraigned for the allegedly stealing 24 bunches of plantain and destroying doors belonging to his father.
According to him, the offence was committed on Oct, 11, 2024 and punishable under section 317 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Bayelsa.
He also said that the council provided free legal service to Woyiengipre Koko, 40 who was arraigned on October. 25, 2024 for grievous bodily harm against Julius Izon contrary to section 264 of the Criminal Code law Laws of Bayelsa State 2006.
In the third case, Timipa Edidi 41, who was arraigned on June 2024 for unlawful possession of one locally made pistol under Section 27 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act laws of the Federation 2004.
The Legal Aid Council Coordinator explained that he personally handled the three cases in the court presided over by Magistrate C. Alagoa.
He had told the court that there must be an end to litigation. “This is an era of correctional decongestion. Therefore the prosecution and their witnesses have not shown diligence in the matter,” he said.
The presiding magistrate of Kaiama struck out the charges against the defendants on April 4.