Hoodlums stone judge, lawyers during hearing of APC litigation in Bayelsa

Some hoodlums on Thursday disrupted the court proceedings at the Bayelsa State High Court.

The court was invaded by the thugs during hearing of a suit challenging the outcome of ward, local government and State congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC)

The hoodlums who were over 30 in number pelted the presiding judge with stones while other attendants of the proceeding were assaulted

The claimant, Alex Blackson and his brother, Osom Blackson, were injured in the pandemonium that ensued.

The Judge was hurriedly moved out of harm’s way by his police orderly.

Most of the lawyers were chased out, while those who came with the claimant were brutalised.

The hoodlums reportedly attacked the court over the alleged insistence of Justice Aganaba to hear the suit filed by Alex Blackson, seeking the order to set aside the disputed congresses of the APC held last year.

There was also sporadic shooting at the State Secretariat of the APC following the attempts by policemen to arrest some chieftains of the party over their alleged involvement in the court invasion.

Two persons were reportedly arrested.

Chairman of APC in the state, Dr Dennis Otiotio-Odoni said those behind the court invasion were PDP members. He said the APC knew nothing about the free-for-all that happened at the court. .

He expressed confidence in the ability of the Judiciary to adjudicate in matters concerning the party and urged the police to fish out those behind the court invasion.

He said, “APC has nothing to do with the invasion of the Court. We are a law-abiding party and we have faith in the Judiciary over cases before it. We condemn the act in its entirety and call on the Police to fish out those behind it.”

A Chieftain of the party and brother to the claimant, Osom Blackson, told newsmen that those who tore his shirt and dealt him several blows were known APC members.