One Williams Ebulefu, a suspected Chief Priest of a deity in Etche local government area of Rivers State has been arraigned at a State Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt for providing medical assistance to a kidnapping suspected.
Ebulefu was alleged to have removed a bullet from the body of one Charles Orlu.
Orlu is standing trial before the Court on a three-count charge of murder, cultism and Kidnapping.
The charge sheet reads that Ebulefu removed the bullet from the gunshot Orlu received during a disagreement with members of his criminal group during sharing of a received ransom.
Orlu was alleged to have killed one Chisom Worlu on the 18th of December 2019 at Omuakwuru community farm road in Igbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area.
According to the charge, Orlu conspired with others still at large and kidnapped a victim around Eliozu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
They later released the victim within the Eleme area after a ransom of N3.5 million was paid.
The charge read that after the successful kidnap and receipt of ransom, trouble broke out within the gang during sharing of the proceeds leading to the killing of Chisom and bullet wound on Orlu.
The chief priest pleaded not guilty to a two-count bordering on illegal removal of bullet and possession of illegal firearm.
Emmanuella Okerie, the Magistrate, after the plea was taken, granted bail to Ebulefu in the sum of, N1,000,000., and two sureties of whom one must be a civil servant of level 12.
The court thereafter adjourned till 10th of February for hearing on the matter.
However, Okerie declined jurisdiction after Orlu’s charges were read and directed that the case file be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution before adjourning till 16th of February, 2020 for advice.
