By Saidu Idris
365Daily – A Bayelsa High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, John Idumange, over defamatory publications against government officials.
Idumange has reported an alleged diversion of N3 billion Agric loan by Bayelsa State Government officials.
Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah issued the warrant on Monday, July 19, 2021, following an oral application by State Prosecuting Counsel, E.S. Obed, who noted that Idumange had been absent from court to defend the charge against him.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Bayelsa, Biriyai Sambo, SAN, sued Idumange for misdemeanor and seditious publications against government officials, who Idumange had accused of diverting the loan.
The Defence Counsel, J.D Olubowale, had told the court that the defendant had an accident on his way to court but the judge insisted that he must be produced in court before adjourning till July 26.
In March, a Yenagoa Magistrates’ Court ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days pending Police investigation after he accused officials of Bayelsa government of diverting a N3 billion Agric loan.
He was arrested on March 10 and charged to court the next day, March 11.
Some officials of the Bayelsa government had reported to the Police that Idumange had made seditious publications that maligned their persons in his claims.
However, the State High Court, Sagbama Division, granted bail to Idumange, who was also an aide on Research and Documentation and later, Social Media, to Former Governor Seriake Dickson.