Apo 6 killing: Trial of police officers suffers another adjournment

The deceased were returning from a night party in 2005 when they were allegedly killed by the police officers.

The trial of six police officers at the Abuja High Court over the alleged killing of six Abuja auto-spare parts dealers in 2005 suffered another adjournment on Wednesday.

The adjournment was due to the absence of the presiding judge, Ishaq Bello.

The accused policemen are Danjuma Ibrahim, Othman Abdulsalami (at large); Nicholas Zacharia, Emmanuel Baba, Emmanuel Acheneje and Sadiq Salami.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is accusing the police officers of killing Ifeanyi Ozo, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike and Tina Arebun.

The deceased, aged between 21 years and 25 years, were returning from a night party in 2005 when they were allegedly killed.

The APO-six trial had suffered several adjournments due to absence of the trial judge.

The case had been adjourned for continuation of hearing but could not proceed as scheduled because the judge, who was said to be on a national assignment, gave his consent for an adjournment.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Chris Uche, and counsel to the first accused, Rickey Tarfa, were told that Justice Bello “is still away on his national assignment”.

Mr. Bello was recently appointed the Chairman of the Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal.

June 4 was given as the new date for continuation of hearing.

On July 8, 2013, Justice Bello granted a request by the prosecution to recall a witness, Ede Ayuba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a plea Mr. Tarfa objected to.

Mr. Tarfa had challenged the recall of Mr. Ayuba, who tendered guns and other weapons allegedly recovered in connection with the incident, because it contradicted Section 237 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

But the prosecuting counsel urged the court to overrule the objection because the witness only came to give his evidence and tendered supporting exhibits.

In his ruling, Mr. Bello held that the recall of the witness was in line with the relevant sections of the law and, therefore, dismissed the defence counsel’s objection.

Earlier, the judge had admitted certified copies of medical report of the examination conducted on the deceased.

(NAN)