Court Adjourns Case of Kidnapping, Murder Against Chief Atseleghe, 11 Others to 18th, 19th Nov., 2020

By The9jaTrend

.     Chief Johnson Atseleghe on White

             Emerging from the Court 

A Benin High Court has adjourned a case between Edo State Government and Chief Johnson Atseleghe and 11 others on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaigele of Kolokolo Community to 18th and 19th November, 2020.

The case which came up in criminal Court 4, today, the 11th day of November, 2020 had one of the accused persons, Chief  Johnson Atseleghe present.

Atseleghe is the Iyatsere of Warri and leader of Itsekiri in oil-rich Ologbo Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

The 1st defendant, Chief  Johnson Atseleghe and 7 Others are being arraigned on a count charge bothering on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaigele of Kolokolo community.

The 7 other defendants are, Felicia Otikpere, female - 55; Oluwa Esimije - 38; Monday Iluwa - 58; Ayokotse Robinson - 54; Nosa Omoregie - 54; Mofe Samuel - 40; Magnanimous Omawumi - 40; Ayuwa More - 65, Amerete Ejiro - 25, Onyeburutan Jeffrey - 25 and Benjamin Erewa - 39.

The Defendants' offence contravened Sections 516, 327 and 316 (1) punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Act , Cap C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2 (2) punishable under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2013 of Edo State.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele adjourned the case to 18th and 19th respectively.

Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, Barrister Mathew Edaghese who led the applicants’ legal team said the judge has to adjourn the case due to the absent of some of the accused persons. 

According to Barr. Edaghese, "production warrant was issued to the prison authority to produce the other 7 accused persons in Correctional Centres so that the trial can commend in earnest, fortunately, the prison authority could not produce them, though, they promise to produce the accused persons in the next adjournment date.

 "On that bases, the court has to adjourn to 18th and 19th of November 2020 respectively for the first 7 defendants, while the 8th defendant, chief Johnson Atseleghe will be heard.

"The adjourned dates is for bail applications, while the State will also file their responses. The 19th of November is for the mail case to be taken through plea," he said.