The case came up before Justice Iniekade Eradiri, where the Prosecution Counsel, Mr John Prosper, apologised for the defendant's absence. Prosper informed the court that he had learned that Idumange had travelled out of the country for a short course following the striking out of the case by Uzakah. However, he was not aware that the case had been refiled, and he had heard that Idumange would be returning to the country by the end of June. Prosper appealed to the court to give reasonable time to allow the prosecution to put its house in order and produce the defendant for arraignment to take his plea.
Idumange, who alleged that officials of the Bayelsa government had diverted a N3 billion Agric loan and subsequently submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was arrested on March 10, 2021. Some officials of the state government reported to the police that Idumange made seditious publications that maligned their persons in his claims. A Magistrates’ Court in Yenagoa had ordered Idumange's detention for 30 days, pending police investigation, on March 11, 2021.
However, the State High Court, Sagbama Division, granted bail to Idumange, who was also an aide in Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson. The case, which was initially assigned to Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, was reassigned to Justice Uzakah following a written request by the state Attorney-General to the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, Justice Kate Abiri.
This case has been ongoing, with Idumange's claims causing quite a stir in Bayelsa. The refiled case suggests that the Bayelsa government is determined to see this matter through to the end. The allegations of N3 billion Agric loan diversion are serious and require investigation. The government officials who are implicated in these allegations need to be held accountable if they are found to have acted improperly.
It remains to be seen what will happen next in this case. The adjournment granted by Justice Iniekade Eradiri will allow the prosecution to put its house in order and give them time to produce Idumange for arraignment to take his plea. The Bayelsa government is committed to ensuring justice is served, and the legal process will continue to unfold.