A Benin High Court in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday remanded one Chief Johnson Atseleghe, 63, and eleven others in Oko Correctional Center for allegedly abducting and killing one Sunny Etchie in Ologbo town near Benin City.
The said Chief Johnson Atseleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, apart from the alleged kidnap and subsequent killing of Sunny Etchie, he had allegedly usurped the position of the Enogie Of Ologbo town, Prince ( HRH) Akenzua by selling lands belonging to the Ologbo town through the use of suspected thugs and hoodlums.
Atseleghe was also alleged to have recruited hoodlums who beat up anyone who dare challeged his authourities in the town until his boys allegedly kidnapped and killed the said Sunny Etchie who objected to his authourity in the sale of his land including his farm crops.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Efe Shagasha Ikponmwonba, after carefully listening to the hearing, remanded the accused persons in Oko Correctional Center and adjourned the case till July 23, 2020, for further hearing.
The eleven accused persons, however, are being tried for charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie in the area.
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Among them are a woman, Felicia Otikpere ,55, Monday IIuwa , 58, Ayokotse Robinson, 54, Nosa Omoregie, 54, and Benjamin Erewa, 39, More Samuel, 40, Magnanimous Omawumi, 40, Ayuwa More, 65, Amerete Ejiro, 25, and Onyeburutan Jeffrey, 25.
The Police Prosecutor, Superintendent of Police, (SP) Peter Ogunba, told the Court that the accused persons allegedly committed the offence on June 7, 2020, at Ologbo town within Benin Criminal Division.
Ogunba further alleged that the accused persons on the said date, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit kidnap and murder of one Sunny Etchie
The Offence contravened Sections 516, 327, and 316( I) punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2,(2) and punishable under Section 3, of the Kidnapping Prohibition,(Amendment) Law 2013 of Edo state.
