19th May, 2020
By Okafor Ofiebor
The Rivers State Government, on the directive of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike has withdrawn and discontinued the two separate charges against Caverton Helicopters pilots.
The charges were contained in charge sheet numbers PMC/532C/2020 and PMC/533C/2020, preferred against the two pilots of Caverton Helicopters Ltd and the 10 passengers on board before the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications, in a statement, said that consequently upon withdrawal of the charges, the presiding Chief Magistrate, D. D. Ihua-Maduenyi Esq; has struck out the two charges and discharged all the defendants.
The saga of Caverton helicopters started on Tuesday, April 7, when Wike, in the company of immediate past Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura and other service Commanders arrested two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots and the passengers for flying into the State during Coronavirus lockdown.
The two pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari, were remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre but later kept at the Delta Hotel Port Harcourt on Tuesday, April 8.
Management of the Helicopters wrote to the Federal Government to rescue its pilots from Wike who arrested and prosecuted them in court for doing a legal duty.