The Bayelsa Government on Monday distanced itself from the travails of a former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva, Richard Kpodo who was arraigned for rape on Friday.

Kpodo, was on Friday docked before a Magistrates’ Court in Yenagoa, for alleged rape.

The accused was charged with two counts of unlawfully detaining one Teke Blessing on June 20 at Etegwe, Yenagoa, and subsequent rape of the victim.

However, Counsel to Kpodo, Mr Julius Iyekoroghe, had dismissed the allegations as a ploy by the Bayelsa government to silence his client who is a vocal critic of the Gov Seriake Dickson-led government.

“The Police are trying to frame up Chief Kpodo. The case of alleged rape that they are trying to use occurred last year in which a girl came to the Richpark Hotel at Etegwe and stole some money.

“Chief Kpodo asked his workers to report the case at Akenfa police station because he was on his way outside the State.

“Out of embarrassment, the suspect went to the Ekeki Police Station and lodged a case of Rape to blackmail the hotel and the owner.

“But when the truth came up, the girl and her family withdrew their case. Now, in their desperate bid to hang Chief Kpodo by all means, the police are searching for the girl and the case details.

“This is a democracy and the act of the police against some critical views by a politician is unacceptable and a violation of his right as a Nigerian,” Iyekoroghe said.

Reacting to the allegations that the prosecution was politically motivated to silence Kpodo, a critic, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said on Monday that the claims are false and baseless.

“Richard Kpodo is on his own. His attempt to politicize and robe government in this matter will not fly.

“As the saying goes, ‘if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime’. This should come as a warning to others who derive pleasure in raping our women and young girls.

“Don’t do it and then end up blaming someone else or the devil for an act you voluntary and deliberately committed with absolute disregard for the law and its consequences simply because you are a ‘big or powerful man’.

“In every life, there will always come a day of reckoning,” Iworiso-Markson said.

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