A PROSECUTION witness in the trial of the Amanyanabo of Koniju, King Captain Nemi Oputibeya Iyala, yesterday disclosed that former Transport Minister, Abiye Sekibo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had links with the wanted militia leader, Tom Ateke.
The first prosecution witness, Sam Nwisagbo, who is an employee of the State Security Service (SSS), told a Port Harcourt High Court yesterday that the monarch, who is standing trial on an 11-count charge with two others, had disclosed to him during his investigations into the genesis of gangsterism in Okrika that Ateke was nurtured by the PDP and Sekibo ahead of the 1999 general elections.
Iyala and the two other accused persons, Chief Stephen Nonju (second defendant) and Sotonye Alabo, (third defendant), who were in court yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Nwisagbo told the court before Judge E. Teetito: “In the course of the investigations, the king said in 1999, Tom Ateke was brought in by the PDP and was commissioned by Abiye Sekibo to help them win the elections in Okrika and Rivers State.”
He said from then on, Ateke took control of Okrika and after the elections, he continued his stranglehold on the community.
The witness, who works in the Investigations and Operations Department of the SSS, explained that while interrogating the monarch after his arrest last December, he admitted to most of the charges levelled against him, such as the abduction of five Russians last year in Akwa-Ibom.
According to Nwisagbo, “he admitted taking part in the abduction of six Russians. He also helped to secure their release. He admitted that they were all taken from where they were being held captive straight to his house.
“The arrest of the king and the two other respondents was based on intelligence reports, revealing that the king had been collaborating with militants, sponsored secret cult activities and was involved in the murder of about five people.
“His complicity in these activities was further confirmed by the discovery of a secret tunnel and armoury at the back of his house by the JTF on March 8, 2008.”
Nwisagbo added that Iyala admitted during his interrogation that he was fully aware of the criminal activities carried out by Ateke and his cohorts.
He said the king disclosed that the militias operating within his domain had always sought his permission in their dealings, but he never deemed it proper to report them to relevant security agencies in the state.
Counsel to the accused monarch, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), later interrupted the witness when he notified the court that the Joint Task Force (JTF) on March 8 discovered a cache of arms and ammunition behind his client’s house at Okochiri.
He argued that since his client was arrested in December, it would be erroneous for this incident to be listed as evidence against him.
But the judge overruled him by admitting the fresh evidence revealed by the first prosecution witness.
Later, Adedipe again raised another objection to the prosecution calling Nwisagbo to the witness stand.
Rivers State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rufus Godwins, countered him by arguing that it was permissible, moreso as the first witness was an intelligence security officer.