By George Onah
Port Harcourt – No fewer than 57 suspected militants arrested by the Joint Military Task Force in Rivers State on charges of membership of secret cults and illegal possession of fire arms have been remanded in Prison by a Port Harcourt High Court.

The men were picked up in various parts of the state, including creeks,  in November last year, one year after the expiration of the of the amnesty declared by the Federal Government.

Justice Boma Diepiri in refusing them bail said the suspects had embraced amnesty in the first instance but returned to the creeks, where they also embarked on armed robbery and kidnapping.

Although all the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Diepiri assured the counsel to the accused persons Mr. Kenneth Asuete and prosecution Mrs. I. O. Okoye of expeditious hearing of the matter.

In another development, nine persons, whose ages range from 23 years to 45 years, were arraigned at Port Harcourt Magistrate Court 3 over alleged vandalisation of the oil pipeline along Opobo/Bonny River in Rivers State.

Counsel to the accused persons O. N. Odeebe sought for the bail of the nine but was refused by Magistrate I.O. Agbesor on grounds that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The men were later returned to prison while Agbesor told the defense counsel to apply to a higher court for their bail and directed the prosecution to return the case file to the DPP for legal advice.