joshua
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
A Benin High Court, Criminal Court 4, has adjourned the ‘Trial Within Trial’ in the alleged murder case between Edo State Government and Chief Johnson Atseleghe and Others for conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaighele of Kolokolo Community, in Ologbo Dukedom in Ikpoba Okha local government Area of Edo state to 26th April for the adoption of written addresses by the prosecution and Counsel and Defence Counsel on the Trial Within Trial brought by the Second Defendant, Robinson Ayokotsie
The defendants Johnson Atseleghe the Iyasere Of Warri , Oluwa Esimijie, Felicia Otikpere, Monday Iluwa, Ayokotse Robinson, Nosa Omoregie, Mofe Samuel, Benjamin Erewa and kaka are being tried for the alleged murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaighele of Kolokolo Community, in Ologbo Dukedom in charge No. B/CO/717M/20 in a Benin Criminal Court 4 sitting in Benin City.
At today’s hearing the 2nd defendant, Robinson Ayokotsie called his Co-defendant, Nosa Omoregie as a witness in the ‘Trial Within Trial’, where he’s denying his earlier statement to the Police; alleging that the said statement was obtained from him under duress.
Testifying before Court on the allegation of statement under duress by the Second Defendant, the Third Defendant, Nosa Omoregie stated that “I was called out from the cell to the toilet by the Investigating Police Officer IPO, Marvelous Otoide, there I was beaten blue and black by policemen. As I was being taken back to the cell, I saw Robinson Ayokotsie being taken to the same toilet. When he came back he was also beaten”, he said.
But on cross examination by the Prosecution Counsel, Orobosa Okunbor (Esq), Nosa Omoregie said he was not present when the statement of Robinson Ayokotsie was taken by the police. He also said he can not remember the date the alleged torture by the IPO took place.
On whether he mentioned the incident of the alleged torture to the Police in Abuja when he made a statement to the police on 19th of August, 2022 after the alleged torture by the police in Benin City, Nosa Omoregie said he neither informed the Abuja Police of the incident nor put it in his statement before the Police in Abuja.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Mary Enoredia Itsueli then adjourned the case to 26th 0f April 2023 for adoption of written addresses by both the Prosecution and Defence Counsels,
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the entrance to the court room when Chief Johnson Atseleghe and his entourage confronted the ITV camara man for daring to come to the court premises to establish the Courtroom before commencement of proceedings.
