Bayelsa Court Fixes March 9 for Hearing on Bail Application by Alleged Celebrity Kidnappers
The Bayelsa State High Court has fixed Monday, March 9, 2026, for further hearing on the bail application filed by two alleged “celebrity” kidnappers, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, following fresh developments surrounding a court-ordered medical examination that was reportedly rejected by officials of the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre.
The development comes amid controversy over the refusal by authorities of the Okaka Medium Security Correctional Centre to release the suspects for a medical re-examination as earlier directed by the court.
The request for bail on health grounds by the two accused persons had earlier caused tension within the courtroom, with police personnel and judicial staff reportedly expressing concerns over the application.
Presiding over the matter, Justice I. Eradiri of High Court 4 had, after listening to arguments presented by Ayibatekena Bruce Ebiki Esq., counsel to the first defendant, Emmanuel Charles Angasei, ordered that the defendants be taken to the Federal Medical Centre for a medical re-examination to verify their health claims.
Justice Eradiri further directed that the medical examination should be carried out under tight security and in the presence of the arresting officers from the Operation Puff Adder unit, representatives of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the defence counsel.
However, it was gathered that the execution of the court order on Friday, March 6, 2026, was stalled when officials at the Okaka Medium Security Correctional Centre reportedly declined to release the suspects, citing what they described as inadequate notice and improper timing.
Sources disclosed that despite being presented with a copy of the court order by officials of the DPP, the prison authorities insisted that the directive could not be implemented at the time because they had not been given sufficient notice to arrange the movement of the inmates.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the management of the Okaka correctional facility were unsuccessful, as a staff member who spoke with journalists requested that a formal written request be submitted before any official response could be granted.
The two suspects, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, were arrested in 2022 over their alleged involvement in a series of kidnapping incidents in Bayelsa State. Among the alleged victims was Danjuma Omieje of Premium Trust Bank, formerly known as Sterling Bank, as well as the proprietor of Lozzy Supermarket and several businessmen in the Igbogene area.
Their arrest drew significant media attention at the time due to the alleged lavish lifestyle displayed by one of the suspects on social media prior to his arrest, including videos showing him flaunting large sums of foreign currency, reportedly after receiving ransom payments from victims.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo and were subsequently arraigned before the Bayelsa State High Court on November 10, 2022, in a case filed under suit number YHC/77c/2022 on charges bordering on kidnapping and conspiracy to commit felony.
The court is expected to resume hearing on the bail application when the matter comes up again on March 9.
