The sour relationship between members of the Edo state House of Assembly, which had held the state legislature spell-bound for sometime now, has resulted in the arraignment of the Majority Leader of the House and some other members.
Hon. Philip Shaibu was arraigned with another member of the House, Sunday Aghedo, with three others before an Oredo Magistrate court in Benin for allegedly attacking, Abdulrazak Momoh, a member of the House, at the legislative quarters on Tuesday.
Momoh, who was attacked by suspected thugs, was beaten to coma and later rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where he is said to be responding to treatment.
Shaibu and Aghedo, representing Etsako West II and Ovia South-West constituencies respectively, and the other defendants were arraigned on a two counts of felony and assault.
Shaibu was accused of hitting Momoh on his head with a rod, causing him harm, an offence punishable under section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, vol. II laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, now in application in Edo State.
The charge document read: “that you, Philip Shaibu, ‘m,’ Sunday Aghedo, ‘m,’ Eboise Emmanuel, ‘m,’ Promise Ogiso, ‘m’, and Ernest Arasomwan, ‘m’, and other now at large on the 7th day of October, 2014 at Edo State Legislators Quartres, Benin City in Oredo Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: assault occasioning harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, now applicable in Edo State.”
While submitting an oral application for bail, counsel for the defendants, Joe Odibeli, stated that the offence was bail-able and assured the court that the accused persons would not jump bail if granted.
The prosecution counsel, K. A. Dika, did not oppose the bail application, but urged the court to consider the severity of the offence in either granting bail or refusing same.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Grade 1, Peter Asemota, granted the two lawmakers bail on self-recognition in the sum of N200,000 each.
