After spending over 68 days at Okaka correctional custody, the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has granted bail to Dr. John Idumange, the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign Director-General of New Media in the 2023 Governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Dr. Idumange had raised an alarm in 2021 over the alleged diversion of N3 billion Agriculture loan by state government officials.
He had alleged that a former Chief of Staff and now Senator representing Bayelsa East Benson Agadaga and the Incumbent Chief of Staff Dr Peter Akpe were beneficiaries of the said loan diversion saga.
Dr Idumange was promptly arrested and arraigned for criminal defamation, he pleaded not guilty and remanded.
On January 27, 2025, Justice Iniekinime Uzakah denied Dr. Idumange bail, citing concerns that he might not make himself available for trial.
However, the defense counsel, led by Barr. Arthur and Barr. Benjamin Ogbara, filed a bail application at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, which was subsequently granted.
The Court of Appeal held that Dr. Idumange is entitled to bail, as he is presumed innocent.
Dr. Idumange had spent over 68 days at Okaka correctional custody before being granted bail.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, the first witness, Oke Omiete, SSA on general duty to the Chief of Staff in Government House Yenagoa, struggled to answer important questions during cross-examination by the defense counsel.
It’s worth noting that the Bayelsa government had refiled the case before Justice Iniekinime Uzakah at the Bayelsa High Court on 27th of January 2024 but it was earlier struck out on April 4, 2023, due to lack of interest by the prosecution. Similarly, a Magistrates’ Court also ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days in 2021, pending police investigation.
Dr. Idumange was arrested on March 10, 2021, after alleging that state government officials had diverted a N3 billion Agric loan. He was subsequently re-arrested in December 2024 for an alleged unknown publication against the Governor of Bayelsa State and the First Lady.
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