The police in Bayelsa State say they have arraigned Oguanisi Akpufu, a nephew of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a Magistrates’ court at Kolo in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Akpufu was arraigned for shooting and injuring a 42-year-old man, Yusuf Bala, during the celebration of Odumimom (masquerade) festival at Otuoke, Jonathan’s hometown, on October 28, 2017.
A statement on Saturday by the spokesperson for the police in the state, Asinim Butswat, said the police filed criminal charges against Akpufu on November 3.
Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspect would subsequently be charged to a High Court for another offence.
The spokesperson said, “On October 28, 2017, at about 1500hrs, while celebrating the Odumimom festival at Otuoke, Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State, one Oguanisi Akpufu, male, 45 years old, accidentally shot one Yusuf Bala, male, 42, in the left leg.
“The victim (Bala) is undergoing medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. The suspect has been arraigned in Magistrate’s Court, Kolo, on November 3, 2017, and he will be subsequently charged to High Court for another offence.’’
It was however learnt that Akpufu, during the celebration, allegedly shot two persons at the festival in Emeyal 1 and Otuoke.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Asuquo Amba, while confirming the incident on Wednesday during a parade of some suspected criminals, said the suspect, who was arrested by policemen attached to Kolo Police Division, had been moved to the Serious Crimes Unit of the state’s police command in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Amba said preliminary investigations showed that it was a case of ‘accidental discharge’, noting that the victims were being taken care of by the suspect and his family members.