The Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, on Wednesday remanded 13 suspects arrested in connection with the
killing of four students of the University of Port Harcourt. The accused
persons were allegedly part of a mob that tortured the four undergraduates to
death in Omuokiri Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The suspects, who were escorted by security agents, were
driven into the court premises about 9.45am in a Toyota Hiace bus with number
plate FG 120 F50. The suspects were in handcuffs and chains as they appeared in
court on five counts of conspiracy and murder.
Presiding Magistrate, Emmanuel Woke, however, said the
court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter. Woke immediately
announced the transfer of the case to the Department of Public Prosecution for
legal advice and subsequent arraignment in a High Court. The magistrate also
said the suspects should seek bail from the high court.
A Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Henry Njoku, stood
as counsel for the prosecution while Mr. A.A. Finebone was the counsel for the
first accused and village head of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Walewa. Mr. Austine
Ojekudo and others from the Nigeria Bar Association and the Human Rights
Commission were in court as concerned parties.
The charges against the accused as contained in Charge
Sheet Number PMC/2009C/2012, are “That you conspired among yourselves to commit
felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section
324 of the criminal code Cap 37 laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
The suspects and others at large were accused of lynching
Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekenah Erikena, thereby
committing an offence punishable under Section 319 of the criminal code Cap 37
volume III laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
The court, however, adjourned the case till December 20,
2012.
Let's all hope justice is served hot and sizzling. Besides
may God and devil punish whoever is involved that escaped the arms of the law
Punch
0 comments:
Post a Comment
We Love To Hear What You think About The Post Or Blog.