November 25, (THEWILL) – The deposed Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Ayirimi Emami, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Warri South Magistrate’s Court, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, over alleged two missing royal crowns.
According to the charge sheet with No: MW/178 C/ 2021, Emami, along with others now at large, allegedly committed the offence about 11.30 pm on March 30 in the house of the Olu of Warri.
Emami was docked before Chief Magistrate E.H Diejomaoh on the three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and theft.
The charge read, “That you Chief Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on 30th of March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Warri Palace, Warri did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit, Burglary and Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.
“That you Chief Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on 30th of March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Warri Palace, Warri, in Warri in Warri Magisterial District, with intent to commit a felony broke into a dwelling house of the Olu of Warri and thereby committed an Offence Punishable Under Section 411 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.
“That you Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on the 30th March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Palace, Warri, in Warri Magisterial District did steal two crowns valued at Two Billion Naira, properties of Itsekiri Kingdom and thereby committed an Offence Punishable Under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.”
Emami, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to his hearing.
Lead Counsel to the accused, Mr Emmanuel Uti, urged the court to grant his client bail.
He noted that the accused was willing and ready to appear in court any time he was called upon.
Similarly, Police Prosecuting counsel, SP Sunday Irabor, said that the discretion of granting bail lay within the court, but called for a stringent bail condition including the reliability of sureties.
Mr Fabius Atie watched briefly for the Olu palace at the court.
Chief Magistrate Diejomaoh, however, granted the accused bail with two sureties and N2 million each.
“The sureties must be at Grade Level 15 in the Civil Service, they must provide their passports and body photographs as well as National means of identification”, she said.
The case was adjourned till Jan. 19, 2022 for hearing.
Meanwhile, the embattled Itsekiri chief has accused some prominent Itsekiri chiefs, including the Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atsheghele, of being behind his ordeal.
He was quoted as vowing that his arraignment would not stop him from pursuing other cases he had already instituted in various courts challenging the selection and emergence of Ogiame Atuwatse lll as 21st Olu of Warri.
He added that he would pursue the case to a logical conclusion in order to clear his alleged involvement in the invasion of the palace.
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