Portharcourt:Aluu 4: 12 arraigned in court

Rivers State Police Command yesterday arraigned 12 persons, suspected to be involved in the murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on October 5, 2012, in Port Harcourt in a state High Court.

The accused persons are Lawal Segun, ex-Sergeant Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodu Yusuf and Joshua Ekpe. Others include Abang Cyril, John Ayuwa, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel. The prosecution said they were involved in the murder of Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekenah Elkanah and Chiadika Biringa, which occurred in Omuokiri, Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
(Brought to you from paulyjah.blogspot.com)
The accused persons, who were brought to the courtroom at about 9:30am were arraigned on eight-count charge. Eight of them were charged for murder, while four were charged for negligence to prevent felony (murder). The proceedings, which lasted several hours, was as a result of argument bordering on substitution of the application on charges filed on February 14 with another one filed on July 31, by the prosecution.
The prosecutor who is the Solicitor General of the state, Godwins Rufus, told the court that he was withdrawing the initial charge; to replace it with a new application to accommodate the twelfth accused person. (Brought to you from paulyjah.blogspot.com)
This generated much argument, as most of the counsel to the accused persons objected on grounds that there was nowhere in the constitution, allowing the substitution of an original application, when arraignment and plea had not been taken.
Counsel to one of the accused persons, O. C. J. Okocha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to disregard the application because it was ill conceived. After the submissions made by the two parties, the trial judge, Justice Letam Nyordee, rose. On his return, after an hour, he ruled and upheld the substitution made by the Solicitor General.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty. Justice Nyordee, however, adjourned the matter till August 15, to rule on their bail application. Meanwhile, some women protested in court yesterday, calling for justice for the victims and accelerated hearing of the case. The protesters under the aegis of Wakrike Ijaw Women of Nigeria, dressed in black attires, were in court as early as 7:00am.
(Brought to you from paulyjah.blogspot.com)