FROM TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt will today rule on the bail application and admissibility of photographs presented as exhibits, on the gruesome murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt on October 5, 2012.

The 12 accused persons were Lawal Segun, ex-Sergeant Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodu Yusuf and Joshua Ekpe.

Others included Abang Cyril, John Ayuwa, Alhaji Hassan Welewa (paramount ruler of Aluu community), Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel.

They were alleged to have been involved in the murder of four undergraduates of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), namely: Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekenah Elkanah and Chiadika Biringa.

Justice Letam Nyordee had, on the last sitting in August, adjourned till today to rule on the two issues, especially the bail application, which were filed by counsel to the 12 accused persons.

During the last sitting, the defence counsel had urged the court to grant their clients bail, because they were deemed innocent, pending the determination of the case.

The counsel, who made their bail applications independently, aligned themselves to their bail affidavits, urging the court to grant their prayer, as they (accused) had credible sureties to take them on bail.

In his submission, the state Solicitor General, Rufus Godwins, opposed their application, arguing that granting them bail, especially the paramount ruler of the community where the incident allegedly occurred, would jeopardise the case, as many of the witnesses were from the area.

He stated that the charges were separated because 12 of them were not facing murder charge.

Eight of the accused persons were facing murder charge, while four were charged for negligence to prevent felony.

The solicitor general pointed out that, even though the judge could use his discretion to grant bail, he should also consider the weight of the crime and number of victims involved.

-Sun

 

Posted by admin on Oct 17 2013. Filed under Headlines, Rivers, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry