The trial of five dismissed policemen over the death of a car dealer, Benson Obode, resumes tomorrow at the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, the state capital.

The accused – Adeleke Adedeji, Musa Oniyo, Abena John, Henry Shobowale and Joseph Omotosho – are being tried on a seven-count charge of murder and stealing.

Standing before Justice Ohimai Ovbaigele, the five suspects are accused to have, in July 2015, stormed Benin City from Lagos and arrested the deceased on allegation of purchasing stolen vehicles who later died in their custody.

Consequently, his corpse was dumped at the mortuary under the guise that he was killed by a mob.
The cops were also alleged to have used Obode’s ATM card to withdraw a substantial amount of money from his account in Port Harcourt apparently after forcefully getting the personal identification number (PIN) from him.

The case was last week adjourned to tomorrow following the late arrival in court of the counsel to the accused.

The seven-count charge allegedly committed by the accused include conspiracy to commit murder punishable under Section 324 Code Cap 48,Vol. II, murder punishable under Section 319(1) Cap 48, Vol. II, conspiracy contrary to 516 and stealing punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 now applicable to Edo State.

The court also reiterated that the culprits on May 23,25 and 26, 2015, at First Bank Artillery 1 & 2, First Monument, 642 Ikwere Road, ENG/RV Rumukoro/RV/NG all in Port Harcourt, stole the sum of N30,000, N100,000, N100,000 and N100,000 amounting to N330,000.00 in tranches belonging to the late Obode using his ATM card to withdraw the said sum ‘having coined him to obtain his pin code and subsequently refused to spare his life so he could be tried in a court of law.’

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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