Continued from Friday
By Harris-Okon Emmanuel / Correspondent, Warri
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP, Ikechukwu Aduba, has absolved the command of involvement in the matter. The police boss had also in another statement; declared five persons were wanted in connection with the lawyers’ killings.
The suspected killers included Kelvin, who is standing trial in Abuja over his gang’s bloody armed confrontation with security forces in Kokori, Ethiope East Council of Delta.
Oji also added that the NBA was informed a week ago that Ogaga Enueme, one of the kidnap suspects in respect of whom the murdered lawyers filed application, was killed on same day (March 27) as the lawyers,.
His words: “The police account is that he was being taken to court with another suspect when they were ambushed and attacked by armed men, who engaged them in a shootout, which left one of the suspects dead.
“From the facts, we see a clear direct connection between the two incidents, especially as they occurred same day. It is no coincidence.
“I saw the release by the CP. It is very unfortunate they came up with such statements even before commencement of investigation. From the scenario of this case, both while it was in court and the death of one of the suspects in police custody, the police have questions to answer. Investigation must start from them.
He added, “Incidentally, when two of our colleagues were killed the bodies we understood were discovered by policemen guiding the location. So, we can say that the bodies were discovered. But in case of the suspect, he died in police custody, so the policemen should answer for what transpired and what happened.
“If we are convinced as we are that the two incidents are related, then tackling the killing of the suspect will be in a way involve unravelling the murder of our colleagues. So, the police cannot at this stage where, to my mind, possibilities are still on board come out to absolve self of blame. Let them go and conduct investigation first.
“We shall send a petition to the National Human Rights Commission asking for thorough investigation into the incident. We have contracted the NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN), who forwarded a petition to the Inspector General of Police asking him to take over the case.”
Former NBA president, Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN), said the body was aggrieved that lawyers were being killed for doing their jobs.
“We are aggrieved. For people to be killed because of the job they do is like killing people because of their belief.”
Police rebuttal
The state Commissioner of Police, in s statement released by Celestina Kalu, a deputy superintendent of police, who is the police public relations officer (PPRO), the police said it was not behind the killings.
“Against insinuations being bandied in some quarters that the police are behind the crime; the command has continuously strived to maintain and adhere to the rule of law by trying as much as possible to be dispassionate in the enforcement of our duties and not delve into the arena of conflicts howsoever.’’
Aduba statement further said that two suspects connected with the Ozoro High Court trial of the kidnap of the Delta SSG’s son were killed in a police shootout with alleged hoodlums with a team of police while leading the suspects to the court.
“While taking two self confessed suspected kidnappers/armed robbers to Ozoro for arraignment; along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale Road, precisely at Edo-Ogwashi axis of the road, the police escort team ran into an ambush, wherein some hoodlums suspected to be the gang members of the arrested suspects riddled the two vehicles conveying the police and the suspects with bullets.
“That the escort team put up a good defence during which the two suspects, in a heated gun duel, suffered fatal gunshots while one of the police escort team suffered serious bullet wounds and is currently hospitalised.
“While we deeply regret the gruesome murder of the two ministers in the temple of justice, a crack team of detectives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State CID, Asaba, had been constituted to unravel the mystery behind the sordid act”, the police further stated.
Uduaghan’s olive branch
Governor Uduaghan, disturbed by the killing of the lawyers, has given the assurance that the masterminds would be fished out to face the music and called for NBA’s cooperation and support.
The governor, who commiserated with families of the deceased and the NBA over the killing of the two lawyers, promised that the state would do a thorough job on the matter.
Ikimi’s findings and conclusion
Some of their colleagues who are into human rights activism, such as Oghenejabor Ikimi, among others had conducted private inquests into the matter with a view to getting to its roots.
For instance, on April 1, members of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD) in conjunction with the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP) led by Ikimi, reportedly conducted a private inquiry into the case. The team visited the High Court of Justice, Ozoro, office of the zonal head, Ministry of Justice, Ozoro, and the police station, Ozoro, respectively to get gather evidence.
According to Ikimi and his team, there are three theories to the assassinations case. The first theory is that the Delta Police Command is culpable in the murders, particularly in the way and manner they were professionally coordinated and executed. The police have since debunked this theory.
Secondly, Vincent Macaulay, the younger brother to the Secretary to the Delta State Government whom Eguonor-Dafiaghor, had on February 12 accused in court of threatening his life, was also fingered. However, the theory has since been long rebutted by I.F. Ifenedo, counsel holding watching brief for the actual complainant in Suit No: HCZ/9C/2013 THE STATE VS. SUNDAY UGBEBO & ANOR before Justice O.A. Onojovwo on the said date in open court.
Thirdly, the remnants of Kelvin’s group could be responsible for the assassinations in a bid to covering up some secrets about the group known to the lawyers in the course of the said case and the suspects (Ogaga Enueme and Efe Edeki). The theory has also been dismiss as a fallacy.
Ikim, however advised members of the public to shun rumour mongering and to give useful and vital information to the police that could assist in unmasking the killers of the lawyers.
Besides, he called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately launch a comprehensive and an impartial investigation into the assassinations and execution of Eguonor-Dafiaghor and Ekuwangji on the one hand and Ogaga Enueme and Efe Edeki on the other, saying Nigerians were tired of the numerous cases of unresolved murders that have bedevilled the nation and her people.
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