Bayelsa Government Discontinues Prosecution of Whistleblower in Alleged N3 Billion Agric Loan Diversion Case

The Bayelsa State government has discontinued the prosecution of John Idumange, a whistleblower who in 2021, alleged the diversion of N3 billion in Agriculture loan funds by state government officials.

Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah of the State High Court in Yenagoa struck out the case, which was inherited from Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro.

The case was subsequently refiled before Justice Iniekade Eradiri at the Bayelsa High Court but was also struck out due to lack of interest by the prosecution in pursuing the case.

Idumange, who had been an aide on Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, was arrested on March 10, 2021, after raising the alarm about the alleged diversion of the loan funds.

He submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing the alleged fraud.

Initially, a Magistrate’s Court in Yenagoa ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days, pending police investigation.

However, the State High Court, Sagbama Division, later granted him bail.

The Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Sambo, had filed a suit against Idumange for misdemeanor and seditious publications against government officials.

The case was reassigned to Justice Uzakah following a written request by the then state Attorney-General to the then Chief Judge of Bayelsa, Late Justice Kate Abiri.

With the discontinuation of the case against Idumange, it appears that the whistleblower is no longer facing charges related to his allegations of the N3 billion Agric loan diversion.