Ifeanyi Dike’s murder trial: Judge overrules no-case submission

Tina Amanda

A high court sitting in Port Harcourt has overruled the no-case submission of Ugochukwu Nwamiro, a 2nd defendant in the murder case of Ifeanyi Dike.

Dike, a 23-year-old 200-level student of the Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt was arrested in August 2017 by the Rivers States Police Command for raping and killing an eight-year-old girl, Victory Chikamso, in Eliozu axis of Port Harcourt.

However, a few days after he was docked, Dike escaped from prison custody.

The then Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, while confirming the incident, described it as a result of individual negligence, adding that the report of Dike’s escape is unfortunate and an embarrassment to the police.

He said the police officer that caused the escape, John Bosco, has been arrested and detained; assuring that they would soon track down the suspect, as the command has deployed all its arsenal to ensure Dike does not escape justice.

However, two weeks after his escape, Dike was arrested in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state,

Counsel to 2nd defendant filed an application of no-case submission in court, arguing that his client Ugochukwu Nwamiro have no case to answer in the murder matter while presuming his client to be innocent.

Principal state Counsel opposed and argued against the application of no-case submission tendered by the 2nd defence Counsel.

The presiding judge Justice Adolphus Enebeli, overruled the no case submission, stressing that the application overstepped when other defendants in the matter have not submitted their defence in court.

Justice Enebeli ordered the 2nd defendant to appear in court at the next adjourned date to enter his defence and adjourned to the 28th of June, 5th, 12th and 19th of July for continuing of defence and hearing.

Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, Chidi Eke, Principal State Counsel said the court did the right thing by giving the order for the 2nd defendant to be tried in court.

On his part, Sonye Ndah, Counsel to Ugochukwu Nwamiro the 2nd defendant said evidence has been exposed in the matter that his client is innocent, adding that the text message that was relied on was not sent from Ifeanyi Dike’s phone to his client.

He stressed that they will open up their defence on the next adjourned date.