Crime Highlight

Kogi monarch, 10 others to cool their heels in prison over alleged culpable homicide

Per Second NewsOctober 3, 2020141

A 69-year-old traditional ruler in Adavi Local Government, Asema Uka (Otumi-Ajoko) of Kogi State, Momoh Nasir and 10 others have been remanded in a correctional centre (prison) for alleged homicide.

A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lokoja on Friday ordered them to be kept behind the bars pending legal advice from the office of the Attorney-General or arraignment before the appropriate court.

The suspects had on Sept. 28, 2020 attacked and injured a group of persons praying at Kabba junction for the proposed Dec. 12 Local Government Council elections in the state.

They are being charged with criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, aiding and abetting under Sections 97(1) 229, 325 and 89 of Kogi Penal Code.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Agatha Shankyula, who gave the ruling, said they be remanded in the Federal Correctional Facility, Koton-Karfe, Kogi.

She granted a Motion Ex-parte dated and filed Oct. 2, by the prosecution led by Samuel Ikuntanwa, of the legal department of the state police command.

Shankyula held that the offence was a serious one, adding that there was the need for further investigations.

“It is on this basis that I tried the probable course to make this order.

“The suspects are to be remanded in the Federal Correctional Facility Koton-Karfe for the next 14 days pending investigation and legal advice from the office of the Attorney-General or the arraignment before the appropriate Court on specific charges.

“This order is given for the first instance and pursuant to the provisions of section 294(1) of the acjl of Kogi 2017,” she held.

Earlier, Sgt. Tuesday Ganagana, in motion, brought pursuant to Sections 291 and 292 of the Kogi Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2017, sought an order of the court to remand the suspects at the Federal Correctional facility, Koton-Karfe.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects criminally aided by one Momoh Nasiru, armed themselves with gun, sticks, stones, knives and cutlasses and invaded the venue without provocation, attacked and inflicted various degrees of injury on about eight persons.

The defence counsel, Mr Mu’azu Abbas, urged the court to admit the suspects to bail.

The case has been adjourned until Oct. 16.