PORT
HARCOURT – PLAINTIFFS in the court case over murder of four University of Port
Harcourt students in Aluu, Rivers State have withdrawn and presented fresh
charges against suspects on trial over the incident.
A High Court
presided over by Justice L.L Nyordee in Port Harcourt sitting over the matter
granted the leave to substitute the charges following Prosecution’s request
after adding one more suspect to the 11 earlier on trial.
Thursday’s
hearing also advanced the trial to the reading of the reviewed charges to the
current 12 suspects who all pleaded not guilty.
University
of Port Harcourt students brutally beaten and burnt alive
The
suspects are being charged with murder and negligence/refusal to prevent
felony.
Counsel
to the 9th Defendant and former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, O.C.J.
Okocha (SAN) had argued that the Prosecution, under any law, has no liberty to
withdraw and substitute original charges.
The
Prosecution led by Solicitor General of Rivers, Rufus Godwin, had appealed for
the substitution on the strength of the addition of one more suspect to the
case.
Deciding
on the argument, Justice Nyordee eventually granted the leave of substitution
of charges.
Justice
Nyordee subsequently adjourned the case to 15th August when consideration for
bail for the suspects would be the first issue to be determined in the
continuing case.
Four
UNIPORT’s students, Binnga Lordson of Theartre Arts, Ugonna Obuzor (Geology),
Mike Toku (Civil Engineering) and Tekena Erikene were murdered by an out of
control mob October 5th 2012 in Aluu, Ikwerre local government area.
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