Three More Suspects Arraigned Over Uniport Killings

Three more suspects were
yesterday arraigned before a
Port Harcourt Magistrate
Court in Rivers State, for the
October 5 killing of four
students of University of Port
Harcourt, in Omuokiri–Aluu
community.
Yesterday's arraignment
made it a total of 16 persons
so far charged to court for
the killing of the students;
Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd,
Chiadika Biringa, and
Tekenah Elkanah.
Finebone Jeffrey, 23; Joshua
Ekpe, 27 and 27-year-old
Abang Cyril, 27 were
brought under a five-count
charge of conspiracy to kill
the four students. Their
pleas were rejected.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate
Emmanuel Woke said his
court lacked jurisdiction to
entertain the case and
therefore adjourned the
matter till February 28, 2013.
In the meantime, the Human
Rights Council of Nigerian
Bar Association, NBA, Port
Harcourt branch, has applied
for the case file of the
suspects. Speaking to
newsmen, Chairman of the
branch, Mr Austin Ojeukeudo
said the association wants
to ensure that there was no
miscarriage of justice in the
trial, adding that the body
would monitor the trial to
the end.
"You 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 thereby
committed an offence
punishable under Section
324 of the Criminal Code Cap
37 laws of Rivers State,
1999," the charge sheet
read.