Desperate to absolve itself of widespread condemnation of neglect and complicity on the escape of a suspected ritualist, Ifeanyichukwu Dike, from their custody, the Rivers State Police Command, on Thursday, arraigned Johnbosco Okoroeze, the police sergeant who allegedly assisted Dike to escape on a two-count charge of complicity and aiding and abetting the escape of Dike.
The command also announced that it had arrested one Ugochukwu whom it alleged as a sponsor of Dike on his mission.
According to the charge sheet on the case, the police sergeant was accused of “assisting Dike, who, to his knowledge, is guilty of the offence of murder of one Chikamso Mezuwuba aged eight years for rituals to escape when he was detained for prosecution and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Criminal Code. Cap 37, Vol.II laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999”.
The magistrate, Andrew Jaja, adjourned the matter till September 14 for to enable counsels to address the court on the matter of jurisdiction on the first count of aiding and abetting the escape of a murder suspect, which according to the criminal code, attracts life imprisonment on conviction.
He later remanded the accused person in prison while adjourning the matter till September 14.
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