Murder: Family Members, Civil Society Demand Justice

Murder: Family Members, Civil Society Demand Justice
Patrick Ochoga
— Dec 4, 2015 11:27 am | Leave a comment
Exactly one year after the gruesome killing of a 32-year-old Prince, Pere Ogie, in Benin City, Edo State, the nephew to former House Representative member, Dr West Idahosa, the family and members of the civil society groups, yesterday demanded the immediate removal of Superintendent of Police, identified as (Richard) from the investigating team over his alleged compromise that stalled the investigation.
They also expressed shock that suspects who had been arrested were granted bail at the instance of GTB on the alleged order of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike.
The deceased’s family, in a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase and other agencies, said the call for the removal of Richard from the investigation is based on serious doubt in his impartiality and therefore they have lost confidence in his headship of the team.
They also appealed to the IGP to direct the speedy conclusion of the deliberate stalemate of investigations by the homicide department of force criminal investigation and arraign the three alleged suspects arrested so far for the offences of murder and armed robbery.
Briefing newsmen yesterday on behalf of Late Justice Joseph Oghogho Idasoha, headed by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Crownwell Idahosa, the former lawmaker, said they have doubts that from the aforesaid sequence of events, the suspects have a prima facie case against them that necessitates the speedy conclusion of investigation and consequent arraigment before a competent court of law for trial.
Showing footage of the CCTV obtained from the bank where the late Ogie went to withdraw the sum of N20, 00,100, the Police armed escort, David Usifo revealed that he was seen in the company of other persons who appeared to have a relationship with him.
According to West Idahosa “ A careful study of the CCTV footage revealed that the police armed escort, who accompanied late Pere Ogie to the bank, was seen in the company of another person who appeared to have a link with him”
“In particular, David Usifo was seen in the company of certain persons who arrived the bank premises on that day in a gold coloured Audi saloon car.”
“The said persons converged in the security post in a very suspicious manner. Thereafter one of the said persons was seen leaving the bank premises on foot even though he drove a prelude car to the bank premises”
“The other three occupants of the Audi car thereafter entered the car together with a fourth person dressed in a white long sleeved shirt and white trouser who appeared to be a staff of the bank and they left the bank premises 20 minutes before the deceased left the premises with the cash he had withdrawn.”
“Worried by the demeanour of these persons and considering the profile of some eye-witnesses, the team of detectives correctly decided to treat them as suspects and arrest them