– The Nigeria Police has arraigned a dismissed officer for aiding the escape of a suspected ritualist
– The officer was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt
– the court has also said that the suspect might face life sentence if found guilty on one of the two count charges against him
The Nigeria Police has arraigned a police sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze for aiding the escape of a suspected ritual killer in River state.
Okoroeze was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state by the state’s police commend.
He was accused of aiding the escape of Ifeanyi Dike, a suspected ritualist previously arrested and detained by the police.
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He was arraigned on a two count charge bordering on obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
The officer was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt. Source: Twitter, @MobilePunch
At the hearing on Monday, August 25, Okoroeze wept uncontrollably as his case was been called.
Crying profusely, Okoroeze repeatedly said: “What have I done to myself? What did I do? Call my wife for me.”
He was however cautioned by the Chief Magistrate of the court, Sokari Andrew-Jaja
The charges said Okoroeze reads: “That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on August 19, 2017, at about 8.30pm at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did assist one Ifeanyi Dike, who is to your knowledge guilty of the offence of murder of one Chikamso Nmezuwuba, aged eight years, for rituals, to escape when he was to be detained for prosecution, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
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“That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did conspire with a suspect, Ifeanyi Dike, and allowed him to escape from prosecution to prevent and defeat the course of justice, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 126 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999,” the charge read.
Having listened to the charges, the Chief Magistrate said the dismissed officer could earn a life sentence or seven years jail term if found guilty on the first and second charges respectively.
Andrew-Jaja declining hearing on the matter ordered the court registrar to transfer the case file to Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The Chief Magistrate further adjourned the matter to Thursday, September 14, for adoption of written addresses.
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ZENITHBLOG.com earlier reported that Ifeanyi Dike, a 23-year-old 200-level student of the Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcout, Rivers state, was arrested by the police for allegedly killing an eight-year-old girl Victory Chikamso.
Dike who was detained by the Rivers state police allegedly escaped with the aid of Okoroeze, a serving sergeant at the command.
Although Dike is yet to be re-arrested, the Rivers state commissioner of police Zaki Ahmed, said the police has deployed all necessary means at its disposal for his apprehension.
Watch this ZENITHBLOG.com TV video of how this suspected kidnapper escaped jungle justice in Lagos
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