Journalists Attacked In Court

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Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Hoodlums suspected to be supporters of former Secretary to Edo State Government, SSG, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, attacked journalists who were at Benin City High Court 3 Friday morning to cover the criminal diversion of funds preferred against Imuekemhe and three others.

Justice Esther Edigin who ordered the remand of the former SSG and three others in prison custody over an alleged diversion of N113 million SUBEB funds following an eight-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had fixed Friday to take the bail application plea by counsel to the accused persons.

Others remanded with the former SSG are former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Joseph Emoabino, its Secretary David Eson Igbinoba and Director of Finance and Accounts, Aghator Gaskin Efe.

The court premises located on Reservation Road, off Sapele Road, was jampacked with hundreds of people who came to watch the proceedings as early as 8 am.

Tension began to rise at at about 9 a.m. when a Toyota Hilux van marked PS 224 A01, brought Emoabino, Igbinoba and Efe to the court premises.

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Moments later when another Toyota Hilux van belonging to the Prison Services brought Imuekemhe, the hoodlums, led by a man simply called Romeo, surrounded the van and attacked journalists who made attempt to take photographs of the accused.

In the melee that ensued, the Ipad of The Nation newspapers correspondent, Osagie Friday Otabor and video camera belonging to Osato Egbe of Channels TV were destroyed by the angry mob.

The former SSG was smuggled into the court in the process and the doors barricaded, thereby preventing journalists who were outside from gaining access into the court room.

Security operatives were later drafted in to restore normalcy in the court premises.

The case was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

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