Aluu 4: Court Frees Seven Suspects

A Port Harcourt Magistrate Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Woke has freed seven of the 18 suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of the four students of the University of Port Harcourt at Umuokiri village in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The four undergraduates, Lloyd Toku Mike, Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Tekena Erikena and Beringa Chidiaka were murdered by a mob on the ground that they were armed robbers.

When the suspects appeared before the court on October 18, 2012, Magistrate Woke had remanded them in prison custody, and pleaded that the court had no jurisdiction to handle the matter, and later sought the advice of the Department of Public Prosecution.

The seven suspects were freed by the court for want of evidence as the court was of the opinion that the evidence advanced  against the suspects were not strong enough to prosecute them.

However, the remaining 11 suspects, including the traditional ruler of Umuokiri-Aluu community, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, are to face murder charges for their involvement in the killing of the students.

Rivers State Commissioner for Transport, Hon George Tolofari (2nd left), explaining a project to members of the Good Governance Team led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku (left) in Port Harcourt, recently.