Aluu 4: Court Rejects Accused Persons Plea

The 11 accused persons standing trial on the alleged murder of four students of the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State last year, were Thursday denied the opportunity to take plea on the charges brought against them by a Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Ledan L. Nyorode on the ground that three out of the 11 accused persons did not have counsels representing them in the matter.

The 11 accused persons are Lawal Segun, ex-Police Sergeant, Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, Ddavid Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodum Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe and Abang Cyril.

Others are, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel.

All were present at yesterday’s court session.

The accused persons are standing trial on the alleged murder of Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekena Elkanah and Chaduka Biringa, all students of University of Port Harcourt on October 5, 2012 at Aluu Community near Choba, Rivers State.

Shortly after the counsels in the matter announced their appearances, the prosecution team led by the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Rufus N. Godwins announced that the third fourth and tenth accused, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbonda and Ozioma Abajuo, respectively were not represented by any counsel.

He told the court that considering the seriousness of the case, it would be proper for the accused persons tobe properly represented, adding that the case, upon conviction, attracts capital punishment.

He added that the accused persons have the right to fair hearing via adequate representation.

The State Solicitor-General urged the court to ask the accused persons whether they would need a counsel to represent them or they would like to represent themselves so as to enable them get what he called state brief”.

In his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Ledan L. Nyorde said that it was necessary for all the accused persons to be properly represented, and adjourned the case so that there would be proper representation for the three accused persons, who did not have lawyers, and ordered that the communication of the court be sent to the legal Aids Counsel.

“It is evident that the three accused persons have no lawyers representing them, it is proper we do things according to law. We can not take any plea unless proper appearance is made”, he stated.

Responding to the bail application sought by O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), Counsel to the 8

th accused person, the State Solicitor-general, Rufus Godwins said the bail application was not proper at this stage, adding that plea taking must be determined before the issue of bail application, noting that a criminal case of this magnitude, plea taking must first be considered.

In his argument, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), O.C.J. Okocha, said his client ought to be given the opportunity to take his plea, adding that he has bail application to make.