A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has discharged and acquitted 12 individuals accused of murdering Police Inspector Christiana Erekere at the Taaba Police Division in Khana Local Government Area.
The suspects, Joy Uheraka, Shirley Wealth, Napoleon Uheraka, Ejiro Ejogbamu, Moses Agege, Precious Iyota, Kikelomo Odusanyo, Wealth Ojoh, Efeoghene Uheraka, Ighofose Oke, Blessing Ovie, and Emeka Joshua, were arraigned on 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
The incident occurred on April 25, 2024, while the suspects were travelling from Delta State to Akwa Ibom State for a wedding when they allegedly committed the crime.
However, delivering judgement, the trial Judge, Justice Augusta Chukwu, held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the case of murder and conspiracy against the accused.
Justice Chukwu ruled that the prosecution witnesses and evidence tendered by the counsel did not show a direct link to the 12 accused.
The court subsequently discharged and acquitted the suspects.
Additionally, the trial judge awarded ₦1 million each to the 12 discharged individuals as compensation for their unlawful arrest and detention.
The judgement, however, sparked jubilation among the family members of the 12 persons.
Speaking to newsmen, defence counsels expressed satisfaction with the judgement, saying it reflects the rule of court and the Constitution of Nigeria.
However, the prosecution counsel, Dickson Celestine, expressed mixed feelings about the judgement, stating that the police authority will review the judgement to determine the next line of action.
Meanwhile, an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for robbing an 87-year-old woman.
The convicts, Shadrack Apos (30), Lucky Akpos (33), and Adunola Precious (24), were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on August 19, 2024, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge reads that the defendants, on 12/6/24 at Ifaki Ekiti, did conspire to rob one Victoria Folorunso of the cash sum of N147,000 and a wristwatch. At the time of the robbery, they were armed with a gun and planks, contrary to Sections 421 and 321 (2) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.
In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 1:00 am when I suddenly saw two people in my room. One held a gun to my forehead, while the second person held a plank; they asked me to bring all the money I had in the house. They took the ₦100,000 I had and another ₦47,000 I kept in my underwear; they took my wristwatch, which was presented to me by my children. They also took my phone, but they returned it to me.
“When they threatened to shoot me, I told them I had N3 million in my account. They instructed me to withdraw the money the following day and give it to Precious Adunola, my house help, to deliver it to them by 11:00 am. They did not wear masks, they did not break the door and were relating freely with my house help.
“They warned me not to tell anybody, or else they will kidnap and kill me. They called and threatened me thereafter for taking too long to receive the money. I later called and informed my children,” she concluded.
