A Chief Magistrates Court in Makurdi has on Monday ordered the remand of three persons in the correctional centre over alleged killing of one Titus Elaigwu at the wake of a deceased.
The court, which lacks jurisdiction to hear a case of murder, did not take the pleas of the defendants – Itodo Okoh, Michael Akoh and Bernard Monday.
The defendants, all resident of Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue, are being prosecuted by the police for alleged criminal conspiracy, membership of unlawful society, terrorism and culpable homicide.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun adjourned the matter until March 15, for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Jonah Uletu, told the court that the defendants were members of a gang, one of whose members, one Adole Okopi, a.k.a Skull father was earler arraigned in 2023.
Uletu disclosed that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ogoli Division, on May 10, 2023, to the state CID, Makurdi via a letter dated May 8, 2023.
The prosecutor further added that the Village Head of Efeyi Ipole in Ugboju, one Chief Peter Ogwuche reported the case at the Ogoli Police Station on March 25, 2023.
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He said: “On that day, the villagers and visitors from other places were seated at the wake in honour of one Johnson Abilama when gunmen numbering about 10 invaded the venue and started shooting sporadically.
“In the process, the gunmen killed Elaigwu, the youth leader of Ogaluwa Ugboju, on the spot.
“The invaders were known to be members of Vikings Confraternity cult group that had been terrorizing Efeyi and its environs”, Uletu said.
He disclosed that during investigation, Okopi was arrested early 2023 and arraigned before the court.
The prosecutor added that the suspects, who were at large, had just been arrested in connection with the crimes.
He alleged that the suspects during police investigation voluntarily confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity cult group.
Uletu said the offences contravened Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004 and Section 11(2) of the Abduction, Hostage taking, Kidnapping, Secret cult and Similar activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
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