The police in Port Harcourt Wednesday finally arraigned embattled Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, for attempted murder of his colleague, Michael Chindah.

But hopes of the lawmaker regaining his freedom after more than one week in detention were dashed, as the court could not rule on his bail application following arguments on appearances.

Lloyd was taken to court by the police, limping and had to be aided by two persons to ascend the stairs to the second floor of the court building the court of the trial judge, Justice L.L. Nyorde, is situated.

When the matter was called, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wogu Boms, rose to take over the prosecution of the matter, arguing that it was a matter involving the state, a position opposed by the prosecution lead counsel, Donald Denwigwe (SAN).

Denwigwe, on his part, argued that the state attorney-general could not take over the criminal proceedings when there was no proper arraignment of the accused before the court, claiming that it was premature.

Also, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), who had earlier announced his appearance with other lawyers for Lloyd, objected to the appearance of De-wigwe and other lawyers for the prosecution.

Nwofor argued that De-wigwe, being a private legal practitioner, he must by law obtain a fiat from the state attorney-general to prosecute the matter, adding that a letter he showed to the court was not enough.

He said though the police under section 23 of the Police Act had power to prosecute criminal cases, but such power was subject to the state attorney-general's consent.

After listening to the arguments of the parties, Justice Nyordee adjourned the case until August 6 for ruling on appearances.

With the ruling, Lloyd was remanded in custody, leaving scores of his supporters, who had thronged the court hoping for his bail, disappointed.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the crisis rocking the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may worsen as the factional Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, has threatened to suspend three members of the National Assembly.

In a statement in Port Harcourt Wednesday by his media assistant, Jerry Needam, Obuah said the party would consider the suspension of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe; as well Chief Andrew Uchendu and Dakuku Peterside of the House of Representatives, for acts of indiscipline and disrespect to the party.

The statement said: "While the leadership is making frantic efforts to make sure the raging internal political crisis in the state is checkmated and ensure that all aggrieved members are peacefully reconciled, certain members of the party notably, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Hon Andrew Uchendu, Hon Dakuku Peterside and some others, are busy throwing spanners into the wheel of progress through unguarded statements and divisive actions."

The statement warned that the party would not hesitate to suspend the lawmakers if they do not change their ways.

However, Abe expressed surprise that he could be threatened with suspension because he joined other Nigerians to call for the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, wondering if the whole National Assembly too would face same threat for also calling for the police chief's removal from the state.

In a swift reaction to the threat, Abe, through one of his associates, who is also the Leader of Eleme legislative council, Gomba Olaka, said he (Abe), had the right, as a leader of the party in the state, to guide the party aright.