…as Okaka prison rejects court order on medical examination over bad timing
By- Alambo Datonye
The Bayelsà State High Court will today further hear the bail application by the two suspected notorious “celebrity” kidnappers,Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike.
Meanwhile, the authorities ar the Okaka Medium Correctional Prison have rejected an order of the State High Court on the release of two suspected kidnappers in its custody for medical re-examination over their request for bail on health grounds.
The request for bail on health grounds by the two arrested suspected celebrity kidnappers, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, had thrown the court into confusion with police personnel and judicial staff expressing reservations.
The presiding Judge, Justice Inekeide Eradiri of the High 4 of the State High Court had, following arguments from Ayibatekena Ebiki, counsel to the first defendant, Emmanuel Charles Angasei, requested for bail on health grounds, ordered that the accused be taken to the Federal Medical Center for medical re-examination.
Justice Eradiri also directed that the arresting officers of the Operation Puff Adder, the representatives of the DPP and the Defence Counsels, should be present under tight security for the medical examination.
But it was gathered at the weekend that the movement of the accused persons from Okaka Medium Correctional prisons, according to the court order, on Friday 6th of March,2026 was frustrated by prison personnel who cited wrong timing.
Reports say the Prison officials, despite the DPP officials showing them the copy of the court order, refused to release the kidnappers , insisting they were not given enough time.
Attempts to speak with the Officials of the Okaka Medium Correctional prisons failed as our correspondent was asked to present an official letter for interview.
The two suspected celebrity kidnappers, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, were arrested in 2022 for alleged kidnapping of One Danjuma Omieje , a staff of a new generation bank, the owner of Lozzy Supermarket and some selected Igbogene Businessmen in the State.
The arrest of the two accused was celebrated in the State due to the social involvement of one of the accused before he was arrested.
He was seen on Facebook flashing hard currency after an alleged ransome payment by an unidentified victim.
They were arrested by the men of the Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo and arraigned at the State High Court on the 10th of November, 2022 on charges of Kidnapping and Conspiracy to commit felony.
