The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo says it is embarrassing to hear that a ritual murder suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike could escape from police custody.
In a statement in Government House, Port Harcourt, the deputy governor said the police and other law enforcement agencies should step up their game and ensure that the felon is re-arrested and brought to justice without delay.
She said that the report that the suspect escaped from the hands of the investigating police officer was totally unacceptable.
Banigo, who condoled the bereaved family on the gruesome murder of little Miss Victory Chikamnso said ”as a mother, I am still numb with shock to hear that a full grown man could defile an eight-year old girl, and also go ahead to mutilate her body for purported money rituals”.
Banigo advised parents and guardians to take extra precautions to ensure that their children, especially female children, are protected from predators like Ifeanyi Chukwu Maxwell Dike, whom she described as devil incarnate.
Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presided over by Mr. Andrew S. Jaja, yesterday, remanded in prison custody, a police officer, Mr. Johnbosco Okoronize for allegedly aiding the escape of a murder suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike at the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID) office in Port Harcourt, last Sunday night.
Okoronize was the investigative police officer (IPO) in-charge of the murder case involving one Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike, a 200-level student of Physics Department of the University of Port Harcourt, who was arrested for allegedly killing an eight-year old girl, Miss Chikamso Victory for ritual purposes at Eliozu axis of Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
The murder suspect allegedly escaped from the SCID office, last Sunday night, after his statement was taken by the IPO.
Johnbosco was later arrested and detained for negligence of duty, following an order by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Mohammed Ahmed.
The accused is standing trial on a two-count charge of aiding the escape of a murder suspect (felony) as well as perversion of justice before Chief Magistrate, S. Andrew- Jaja of Court 5.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding Chief Magistrate, S. Andrew-Jaja said the court lacked jurisdiction to handle the case, and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, while the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
The presiding chief magistrate while adjourning the matter to September 14, for mention, directed both the prosecution and defence counsel to forward their written addresses to the court on why the accused should or should not be granted bail.
Speaking to journalists, lawyer to the accused police officer, Mr. Warmate Sunday said the charge was not read to the accused because of the nature of the matter involved.
Also speaking, a human rights lawyer, Eugene Ode said the arraignment of the police officer was in order, adding that only the High Court has the jurisdiction to handle the matter.
The Tide reports that count one of the charges attracts life imprisonment, while count two attracts  seven years’ imprisonment, if convicted.