Court remands Warri chief, others for ‘kidnapping, murder’

A Benin High Court, Monday remanded the Iyasere of Warri and leader of Itsekiri Ologbo community in Edo state,  Chief, Prince Johnson Atseleghe, in prison custody for alleged kidnapping and murder of one Sunny Etchie.

Atseeleghe, 63,  was remanded alongside 11 other suspects for allegedly conspiring among themselves to commit the offence.

The suspects include: Ouwa Esimije, Monday Iluwa Sani, Ayokotse Robinson, Nosa Omoregie, Omoregie, Mofe Samuel, and Magnanimous Omowumi.

Others are: Felicia Otikpere, Ayuwa Mofe, Amerete Ejiro, Onyeburutan Jeffery, Benjamin Erewa and Prince Johnson Atseleghe.

The suspects were arraigned on a four-count charge by police prosecutor, Peter Ogumba.

The prosecutor told the court that the 12 suspects and others now at large “on the 7th of June, 2020 at about 8.00am, at Ologbo town, within the Benin Criminal Division, murdered one Sunny Etchie and thereby committed an offence.”

According to the police prosecutor, the offence is contrary to Section 316 (1) and punishable under Section 319 (1) of the criminal Code Act, cap c38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The presiding Judge, Justice Efe Ikponwoba, thereafter remanded the suspects in prison and adjourned the matter to July 23, 2020.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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