Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari , two Pilots working with Carveton Helicopters, were on April 7, sent to prison by a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court for allegedly violating the directives of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, on the closure of the State borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Presiding Chief Magistrate D.D. Ihua-Maduenyi, delivering the order to remand the pilots at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre till May 19, 2020, for the commencement of trial, also ordered that COVID-19 tests be carried out on the duo to ascertain their status.
The arraignment of the accused, employees of Carveton Helicopters followed Governor Wike’s storming of the firm’s operations at the Nigeria Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, resulting in their arrest by the State Police Command who took them to court on Charge No: PMC/532C/2020.
Prosecution Counsel, SP Gladys Amadi told the court to remind both accused pending conclusion of investigations, arguing that the acts of both pilots were capable of putting the entire state in danger of contracting the pandemic and allowing them to roam the streets would endanger lives in the state.
The four-count charge read in part, “Count 1: That you Samuel Ugorji (m), Samuel Buhari (m) and others now at large as pilot and co-pilot of Twin-Otter, Carveton Helicopters on the 7th day of April 2020 at the Air Force Base, Port Harcourt did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanour to wit: disobedience to lawful order and thereby committed an offence under section 517A of the criminal code CAP 37, Vol 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
“Count 2: That you Samuel Ugorji (m), Samuel Buhari (m) and others now at large on the same date and place at the aforesaid magisterial District did intentionally disobey the lawful order issued by the Governor of Rivers State as contained in paragraph 8 of the Executive Order RVSG -01 2020 made pursuant to Sections 2, 4, and 8 of Quarantine Act Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Regulation 11 of the Quarantine (Coronavirus (COVID-19 ) and other infectious diseases) regulations, 2020 by flying the Twin-Otter Caverton Helicopters into Air Force Base, Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 5 of the Quarantine Act Cap Q2 LFN, 2004.
“Count 3: That you Samuel Ugorji (m), Samuel Buhari (m) and others now at large on the same date and place at the aforesaid magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by flying and discharging passengers from the Twin-Otter helicopter at the Air Force Base, Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the criminal code laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”
The Governor, who is a key witness in the case, says he is ready to drop his immunity, to testify as prosecution witness.
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