Rivers state governor, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Uchendu Mark – Port Harcourt
Rivers State Government has taken over the prosecution of four dismissed police officers who are involved in alleged torture and murder of late Chima Ikwunado and unlawful infliction of injuries to four others.
When the matter was mentioned before Justice Florence Fiberesima of a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, five count of murder, torture, conspiracy and unlawful infliction of injuries was read out to the four suspects.
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According to the charges, the suspects Ayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzor, Rose Georgewill and Egbunefu Felix are alleged to have on the 23rd of December, 2019 at the office of Eagle Crack at mile one Diobu Port Harcourt did torture and murdered one Chima Ikwunado by hanging him and inflicted injuries of other four victims.
Our Correspondent reports that the suspects pleaded not guilty to the five count charge.
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But before argument of bail application, the Defence counsels with reference to Section 332 of Criminal code of Rivers State raised objection of going on in the matter, saying that the process relied upon as listed by the Prosecution including pictures, autopsy and medical reports have not been served on them.
The State Prosecution counsel, Chidi Ekeh who is the representative of the state attorney General and Commissioner for Justice however opposed to the argument, insisting with reference to section of Rivers State Criminal Code that the law permits the Prosecution to list and not to make available the materials.
The trail Judge, Justice Florence Fiberesima in her ruling, ordered the Prosecution counsel to make available all the necessary material it will rely upon in the matter to the Defence counsels before the next adjourned date and as well ordered that the suspects be remanded to SARS office at Rukpoku before adjourning to the 20th Day of October, 2020 for trail of the matter.
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David Obuo and Allyn Nwakanma who are among the Defence counsels explained to newsmen outside the court why they did not allow the trail to go on and demanded that material relied upon Should be made available to them.
Prosecution Counsel, Chidi Ekeh while narrating what transpired in court and while the state government took over the trail, promised to make available all the required material to the Defence counsels as directed by the court.
