Uniport Killings: Suspects Charged With Conspiracy, Murder

THIRTEEN suspects arrested in connection with the murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt on October 5, were, yesterday, charged before a Port Harcourt Magistrate on afive- count charge, even as the Police has dismissed a Sergeant, Lucky Orji, who was said to be part of the mob.


The paramount ruler of Omuokiri-Aluu community, Alhaja Hassan Walewa , 59, was among the thirteen suspects in court. The others were, ex-sergeant, Lucky Orji, 43; Lawal Segun, 28; Cynthia Chinwo, 24; George Nwadei, 20; Ekpe Daniel, 30; Okoghiroh Endurance, 24; Gabriel Oche, 33; Ozioma Abajuo, 23; Endurance Edet, 27; Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon) 32; David Chinasa Ogboda, 30; and Chigozie Evans Samuel, 22.


They were charged alongside others at large for conspiring to murder the four students of the University of Port Harcourt, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekenah Elkanah.


The charge was read to them but the magistrate did not take their plea
Adjourning on the matter tillDecember 20, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Woke, said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit because of its nature.
He then directed that the case file be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.


The accused who were leg-chained were led to the court by heavily armed security men.


Charge


The charge against them read: “You, Alhaji Hassan Walewa, 59 years, ex-sergeant, Lucky Orji, 43, Lawal Segun, 28, Cynthia Chinwo, 24, George Nwadei, 20 , Ekpe Daniel, 30 years old,Okoghiroh Endurance, 24, Gabriel Oche, 33, Ozioma Abajuo, 23, Endurance Edet, 27, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), 32, David Chinasa Ogboda, 30, ChigozieEvans Samuel, 22 years, and others at large, on October 5,2012, at Omuokiri, Aluu community, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and there by committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 laws of Rivers State, 1999.


“On the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did murder one Ugonna Obuzor by lynching and burning him to death and there by committed an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code cap 37 volume 111 laws of Rivers State, 1999.”
Police dismiss Sergeant
Meanwhile, the Nigeria PoliceForce has dismissed a sergeant identified as Lucky Orji, who was allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of the students, following the confessions of one of the arrested suspects who claimed that a policeman was part of the mob.


The sergeant was dismissed for ordering the mob to kill the students.


Mr. Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, whilespeaking yesterday on Channels TV, named the dismissed sergeant as Lucky Orji. He stated that the Nigeria Police Force had carried out their investigations and dismissedthe ‘named’ sergeant.


Mba said the dismissed police officer and another officer were alleged to have stumbled upon the angry mob beating the students.