Trial Of ALUU 4 Killers Resumes In PH

A Rivers State High Court presided by Justice Letam Nyordee, on Thursday resumed trial of the suspected killers of four students of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, at Aluu community, which occurred in October 2012.

The undergraduate students, Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekenah Elkanah and Chiadika Biringa were brutally murdered on October 5, 2012 at Umuokiri-Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The suspects, Lawal Segun, Ex-Sergeant Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis, a.k.a Kapoon, David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusufu, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril, and John Ayuwu a.k.a. Johnny Babber, were charged with the murder of the four students, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol 2, Laws of Rivers State, 1999.

The traditional ruler of Umuokiri-Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Welema, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel were charged with four count charges of negligence for refusing to prevent by all reasonable means when felony “murder” was being committed,  which led to the death of the deceased students, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 515 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol 2, Laws of Rivers State, 1999.

When the suspects were formerly arraigned, they pleaded not guilty to all count charges.

After the plea, the trial Judge adjourned the matter to August 15, 2013, when bail applications for the accused persons will be taken. The judge adjourned the matter after he found out that some of the defence counsels were yet to file their bail application. In addition, the Solicitor-General of State, who is prosecuting the matter, was yet to file any response to the bail applications filed by some of the defence counsels.

Before the commencement of the trial, the prosecuting counsels led by Solicitor-General of the State, Mr. Godwins Rufus applied to withdraw the original charge filed on February 14, 2013, with a substituted one filed on July 31st, 2013, pursuant to Section 162 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and section 163 of the Criminal Code of Rivers State, which allows charges on criminal trial to be substituted at any point of the trial provided judgement has not been delivered.