Kogi court remands 2 farmers for ‘killing fisherman’

A Chief Magistrate court sitting in Lokoja yesterday remanded two farmers, Innocent German and Benjamin Echekwe in prison custody for alleged conspiracy and killing a fisherman, Peter Akwayi, with a dane gun. Chief Magistrate Levi Animoku, issued the remand order in his ruling on arraignment of the accused, saying the duo were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97(1) and 221(a) of the penal code.
He added that the accused were said to have committed the offence at Elele village in Ibaji local government area of Kogi state on March 19, 2018. The prosecuting police officer, Inspector Friday Shaibu told the court that one Friday David of Elele village reported the matter at the divisional police headquarters, Onyedega. He alleged that, on the fateful day, about 7:20pm, while the deceased was fishing in Aji-Ojua River, the accused criminally conspired, armed themselves with a dane gun, attacked and shot Akwayi dead.
Shaibu added that German of Elle and Echekwe of Ogbeju-Ibaji, both farmers, thereafter dumped the corpse of the deceased in the bush and covered it with leaves. He said police investigation into the complaint led to the arrest of the accused. The prosecution further told the ourt that investigation was still on and applied for another day for mention.
“I object to their bail. We ask for a ‘custodian order’ to remand the defendants at the Federal Prisons Idah,” he stated. In his ruling, Animoku described culpable homicide as “the highest crime known to our laws.” Animoku therefore transferred the case to Chief Magistrate Court, Idah and adjourned to April 24 for mention.

 

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