Court Strikes Out Treasonable Charges Against Popular Edo Civil Rights Activist, Kola Edokpayi

The Edo State High Court (Criminal Division) presided over by  Justice Efe  Ikponmwonba  has struck out and discharged Mr. Kola Edokpayi, a civil activist of the 6-count Charges brought against him last year by the state.

The charges bordered on Conspiracy to commit Treasonable Felony,  Treasonable Felony, Promoting Native War, membership of unlawful society, publishing defamatory matter with intent to induce and Impersonation.

The court action is sequel to the "Notice of Withdrawal" transmitted to the Honourable Court by the State counsel dated the 12th day of July, 2018 with Charge number B/CD/166C/17.

The trial Judge who took judicial notice of the Application, struck out the case and also discharged him of the charges.

Edokpayi was arrested on 16th May 2017  by the Police and immediately arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court in Benin City, on two count charges that bordered on  conspiracy to commit felony to wit; instigating invasion of Nigeria.

He was accused of committing a punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code and instigating a group of Intellectuals some of who are foreigners to invade the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC Head office in Benin City, the Edo stats Government House, the state House of assembly and oil producing Communities.

He was said to have thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 38 of the Criminal Code, though the court declined jurisdiction to hear the case as it ordered that his remand at Oko Prison.

The court had asked that the case file be duplicated and sent to Department of Public Prosecution, DPP for legal opinion before his bail application was granted by His Lordship Justice Acha of Criminal Court 1 also in Benin City on the 20th day of June 2017.