Rivers Crisis: At Last, Lloyd Released from Prison Custody

Chidi Lloyd

The embattled Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, was Wednesday released from prison custody following the bail granted him by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

This came as the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Worgu Boms, who has taken over the prosecution of Lloyd, vowed to ensure that other lawmakers involved in the July 9 fracas in the assembly were equally prosecuted.

Lloyd was released from Port Harcourt prisons at about 4 pm when his lawyers presented the court ruling and evidence of the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The lawyers were accompanied by some politicians and other supporters of the lawmaker.

The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had earlier in the day granted him bail after hearing the application filed by his counsel, Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN).

The state attorney general, who was prosecuting the case, did not oppose the bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Letam Nyordee, in his ruling, said the offences, which are attempted murder, assault, intent to maim, destruction of government property and two other charges, were bailable offences and not punishable by death.

He therefore granted Lloyd bail in the sum of N10 million and three sureties in like sum.

He said two of the sureties must have landed property, with proof of ownership, within the jurisdiction of the court, while the other must be a senior civil servant in the state.