Court remands 4 for beating man to death in Port Harcourt

Brave Dickson

A magistrate court in Port Harcourt has remanded Blessing Umoh (female) 34yr old, Okoroma Emmanuel (male) 34yr old, Oketa Chinedu (male) 21yr old and Stanley Eli (male) 24yr old for allegedly killing one 45yr old Sunday Udoh Essien in the Abuloma axis of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

The court who declined jurisdiction to hear the matter, however, ordered the transmission of the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

The four defendants are standing trial on two count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder.

One of the charges read: “that you Blessing Umoh, Okoroma Emmanuel, Oketa Chinedu and Stanley Eli on the 13th day of May, 2019 at about 1700hrs at Abuja Estate by ASP Miller Road, Abuloma, Port Harcourt did conspire among yourselves to commit murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol 11, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”

Count two, “that you Blessing Umoh, Okoroma Emmanuel, Oketa Chinedu and Stanley Eli on the same date and place did unlawfully killed one Sunday Udoh Essien by beating him to death and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 11, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”

Presiding Chief Magistrate SD Andrew-Jaja having refused the bail application of the defendants’ counsel however adjourned the case till July 11, 2019.

Similarly, one Lekara Nwidede (male) of 23yr old is now telling the court what he knows and does not know about the killing of one Zorle Akolo.

The defendant and others at large according to a charge sheet now have a case to answer on several felony offences.

Count one said, “that you Lekara Nwidede and others at large on or before the 13th day of January 2019 at Luyor Gwara community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State did conspire among yourselves to commit cultism and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 7 (c) of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No 7 of 2018 as amended.

“Count two, that you Lekara Nwidede and others at large between the same said date and place did belong, participated in the activities of Deygban Secret Cult by engaging in incessant kidnapping activities at Gwara community and Bori town in Khana LGA and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(1) of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No 7 of 2018 as amended.

“Count three, “that you Lekara Nwidede and others at large on the same place and date did murder one Zorle Akolo by shooting him to death with a gun and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 11 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

Also, Chief Magistrate SD Andrew-Jaja had adjourned the case till July 4, 2019.

The accused persons if found guilty on the murder charge by the court are liable to death upon conviction.