TELL Magazine

Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Monday adjourned the trial for seditious publication of a former General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, John Idumange, to July 19th, 2021

Idumange had alleged in a publication that Bayelsa State Government officials had diverted agricultural loans amounting to N3 billion.

But the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Bayelsa, Biriyai Sambo, SAN, in reaction sued Idumange for misdemeanor and seditious publications against government officials.

Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah however adjourned the case on Monday after Mr. Ebikebuna Aluzu, the lawyer of Idumange, who was not in court to take his pleas, was on his way after attending another arraignment before a magistrate court in Yenagoa.

A magistrate court had on March 11 in Yenagoa, ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days pending Police investigation.

Idumange had alleged that officials of Bayelsa State Government had diverted a N3 billion agriculture loan. He was arrested on March 10 and charged to court the next day after some officials of the Bayelsa State Government had reported to the Police that Idumange had made seditious publications that maligned them.

A Bayelsa State High Court in Sagbama however granted bail to Idumange. Idumange served as a special assistant on Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Governor Seriake Dickson.