The Legal Aid Council has secured the discharge and acquittal of three indigent suspects.

The defendants who were offered free legal services by the Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa have been facing trial since 2023.

They were arraigned before Justice Iniekadi Eradiri at Bayelsa State High Court, Judiciary Headquarters, Ovom, Yenagoa Bayelsa capital.

The defendants are James Peter, Esueya Ikeloti, Somikien Precious and Pereowei Moses.

They were charged for being members of a secret cult known as Bobos and unlawful possession of firearms.

The charges also included conspiracy and act capable of causing breach of peace.

The judge discharged and acquitted the three defendants of all the charges filed against them by the prosecution and subsequently freed.

Eddy Inenevwo Esq, Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa represented the defendants.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Inenevwo said that the Legal Aid Council remained committed to making justice accessible to all by providing free legal services to the indigent Nigerians.

He said that the trial judge haven noticed that the defendants had no legal representation, assigned the case on March 18, 2024 to the Legal Aid Council which took up and closed out the case

Inenevwo explained that in addition to having cases assigned by judges, the Council visits Correctional Centres to identify assist detainees who cannot afford legal services while its offices remain open to members of the public.

•PHOTO, L-R: James Peter, Eddy Inenevwo, Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa, Esueya Ikeloti, Somikien Precious and Pereowei Moses, shortly after their acquittal and discharge on Dec. 19, 2025.