Two pilots accused of intentionally disobeying the Executive Order issued by the Rivers State governor. Nyesom Wike aimed at checking the spread of coronavirus in the State have been remanded in prison custody.

A Port Harcourt Chief magistrate court presided over by Chief Magistrate D. D. Ihua-Maduenyi ordered that the pilots of Carveton Helicopters, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre till May 19, 2020 when their trial would begin.

The pilots, who were arrested by the Rivers State Police Command, were arraigned by the State Police Command via charge number: PMC/532C/2020.

Ihua-Maduenyi ruled that COVID-19 tests be carried out on the two pilots to ascertain their status.

Prosecution Counsel and officer-in-charge, Legal, of the Rivers State Police Command, Gladys Amadi, told the court that the acts of the two pilots were capable of putting the entire state in danger of contracting Coronavirus.

She urged the court to remand them in prison to enable the police conclude its investigation, adding that allowing the accused persons roam the streets would endanger others in the State.

According to her, remanding the pilots will also stop them from further violating the Executive Order. The state Attorney General, Zacheus Adango, was also in court.

According to the charge sheet, the pilots faced a four-count charge. Count one stated: “That you Samuel Ugorji (m), Samuel Buhari (m) and others now at large as pilot and co-pilot of Twin-Otter,  Carveton Helicopters on the 7th day of April, 2020, at the Air Force Base , Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District,  did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: disobedience to lawful order and thereby committed an offence under section 517A of the criminal code CAP 37, Vol 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria,  1999.

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