Alleged Rape: Accused Ex-Security Adviser writes Bayelsa CJ over transfer of case to another Court

….accuses Trial judge, Public prosecutors of alleged pre-conviction deal

A Former Bayelsa Security Adviser,Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, accused of alleged rape of a 28 years old, yesterday halted his ongoing trial with a petitions filed to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kate Abiri for a transfer of his case to another court over alleged pre-trial conviction deal against him by the trial Judge, Justice I. Eradiri and the State Public Prosecutor, Barr. A. J. Arthur. 

The petition, filed yesterday during the Court proceeding as an application before the trial judge, Justice Eradiri, disrupted the anticipated opening of defence and cross examination of witnesses by the Counsel to Chief Perekeme Kpodoh.

Though the petition caused a minor argument between lead Public Prosecutor,.A. J. Arthur and an addition counsel to the defence team, Barr. Douye Federekumo, over issues of rules and procedures in the adoption of the application /petition,  it was later resolved by the presiding Judge, Justice Eradiri with adjournment.

The accused, Chief Perekeme Kpodoh noted that the application for transfer of the suit titles YHC/95c/2018 was based on order 37 rule 1 and 20 of the Bayelsa State High Court. 

In the Copy of the petition, made available to newsmen and signed by the accused, Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, the trial judge and Public Prosecutor, A. J. Arthur have, in words and actions, allegedly shown that a pre-trial conviction have been secured against him inspire of the bailable status of the charge of Rape. 

According to the petition, “the trial judge in his ruling on my bail application alluded to the proof of evidence filed in the case as ones that are serious and not frivolous. I am very concerned that those comments of the judge because the issue of the judge to make such reference while refusing my bail application is a manifestation of prejudice and explicable only in a conviction that the judge has derided the case against me pre-trial. ”

“The defence intend to expand the team of defence counsel but the court has failed, refused and neglected to finish me with the records(especially typed records)  in spite of repeated demands.This in my view is premeditated acts to scuttle my defence against the charges. ”

“Furthermore, I have it on good authority that the public prosecutor Barr. A. S. Arthur goes about priding himself that the Court would surely convict me because he trusts the Justice Eradiri  is a pro-convictiom judge who committed in his case. Hence this application. 

It would be recalled that Kpodo, was on July 31, 2018 arranged for alleged rape at High Court 7 after being earlier arraigned before a margistrates court in Yenagoa.

 Kpodo, who was charged on two counts of unlawful detention and rape of the victim, a 26 year old female cashier at his hotel, had maintained that the his trial was politically motivated. 

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