Leadership tussle: Plateau PDP sues 2 for alleged impersonation, intimidation
NAN-H-85
PDP
By Thompson Charlie Yamput
Jos, April 20, 2017 (NAN) Two men, Gyang Badung and Emmanuel Macham, were on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Tongret Kporbon of Kasuwan Nama Magistrates’ Court III, Jos, for impersonation, intimidation, intentional provocation and breach of the peace in Plateau.
The Plateau chapter of the PDP filed a suit against Badung for allegedly parading himself as the state chairman and Macham for allegedly parading himself as Publicity secretary of the party.
The accused are facing a four-count charge of Conspiracy, Impersonation, Criminal Intimidation and Intentional Provocation, contrary to the Penal Code.
Both accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Mr Gyang Zi, the prosecution counsel, had told the court that the offence was capable of undermining the relative peace in the state.
“My Lord, the accused are not officials of PDP as they claimed as only Chief Damishi Sango was duly elected as Chairman and Mr John Telpak as Publicity Secretary of the party in 2016.
“But the accused persons have been instigating members of the complainant (PDP) against the leadership of the party, thereby disturbing public peace.”
Zi also objected to bail being granted to the accused on the ground that “they have threatened the complainants and are all out to disrupt public peace, which is detrimental to the peace and development of this state”.
Responding, Ms Jeanne Gwom, the defence counsel, applied for bail on behalf of her clients.
“My Lord, the two accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges and all the charges leveled against them are bailable.
“Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, provides that the accused are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law,” Gwom argued.
Chief Magistrate Kporbon granted them bail for N5 million each with two sureties.
“One of the sureties for each accused must be a public servant on Grade Level 12 or above and must have a property in Jos Metropolis,” Kporbon ordered.
Hearing in the case was adjourned til May 31. (NAN)
TYC/HAS/IA
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Idris Abdulrahman