By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—The police in Bayelsa State,  arraigned three persons before the Federal High Court, Yenagoa,  over their alleged involvement in the stoning of Governor Timipre Sylva at last month’s civic reception held for President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the state, recently.

The accused persons, Toremeye Fiebi, aged 37, Ukalizebe Bernard, aged 28 and Beneyi Blackie Best, aged 30, were charged for treasonable felony, for attempting to remove Governor Sylva from office through unconstitutional means and painting the latter in bad light before President  Jonathan.

However, the accused persons were remanded in prison custody, after they  pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge brought against them.

The trial Judge, Justice R. Aikawa, adjourned the case till December 16, 2010 for further hearing.
The two-count charge preferred against the accused read,, “that you Toremeye Fiebi, Ukalizebe Bernard and Beneyi Blackie Best  and others at large, on October 22, 2010 at Samson Siasia Stadium Ovom, Yenagoa, within the jurisdiction of this  court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: treasonable felony, by forming an intention to remove during the term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means, Governor  Sylva as the Governor of Bayelsa State.

“To compel by intimidation, the President of Nigeria, Dr.  Jonathan, to change his measure, counsel, attitude and have negative opinion about the Governor of Bayelsa State and you manifested such intention by stoning the Governor of Bayelsa State with stone, dangerous weapons, sachet of pure water, in order to discredit the Governor’s administration and thereby committed offence punishable under section 516 of the criminal code Act CAP C38 Laws of Federation of Nigeria.”

Count II: That Toremeye Fiebi, Ukalizebe Bernard and Beneyi Blackie Best and others at large on the aforementioned date, place and judicial division did commit treasonable felony against the Governor of Bayelsa State Timipre Sylva by throwing stone, dangerous weapons and sachets of pure water at him during the visit of President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with a view to discrediting Timipre Sylva administration and subsequently remove him as Governor of Bayelsa State and thereby commit offence punishable under section 41(b) of the criminal code Act CAP C38 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.”