———-as Johnson Atseleghe,
snatches the phone of a reporter inside the Court.
BY Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The case involving Chief Johnson Atseleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri and 8 Others for the alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okaeghelle of Kolokolo Community, in Ologbo Dukedom, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, has been adjourned to the 28th, April 2022 for Ruling and continuous hearing.
At today’s sitting, the Counsel to the 1st defendant, O. T. Okeke adopted his written address on the trail within trial .
Adopting his address, the 1st defendant Counsel urge the Court to reject exhibit T1 and admit exhibit T2.
” My Lord we have a written address on behalf of the 1st defendant.Evidence already in the records of this court.
We urge my Lord to reject exhibit T1 and admit exhibit T2.
The Prosecution Counsel , Osasu Ewemade , adopting her written address, told the Court to disregard the allegation of duress by the 1st defendant and his counsel that his client was made to sign under duress.
“We urge the Court to admit the evidence in the trail within trail, as Pw 3 statement has established that, the statement was taken on condusive environment .” My Lord we urge the Court to
Reject exhibit T2 and admit exhibit T1.
The Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Mary Ituseli thereafter adjourned the case to the 28th of April, 2022 for Ruling and continuous hearing.
Meanwhile, it was a big drama in the court when chief Johnson Atseleghe forcefully snatched the phone of one of the reporters inside the Court.
The offence of the reporter was an allegation made by one of the defendants in the case to Johnson Atsetuleghe
that the reporter was filming him.
It took the intervation of the Court Register and the Security agents in the court before the phone was released to the owner, but not until the wife of Johnson Atseleghe and his boys scripted through the gallery to ensure that their photograph was not inside the phone.
Chief Johnson Atselege, the Iyasere of Warri and 8 Others are currently being arraigned in the Edo State High Court Court 4 (Criminal Division) for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okaeghele of Kolokolo Community in Ologbo Dukedom.
All the 8 Accused Persons including, The Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atseleghe, Felicia Otikpere, female – 55; Oluwa Esimije – 38; Monday Iluwa – 58; Ayokotse Robinson – 54; Nosa Omoregie – 54; Mofe Samuel – 40; Magnanimous Omawumi – 40; Ayuwa Mofe – 65, Amerete Ejiro – 25, Onyeburutan Jeffrey – 25 and Benjamin Erewa – 39 were in Court.
The Defendants’ offence contravened Sections 516, 327 and 316 (1) punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2 (2) punishable under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2013 of Edo State. … Continue reading