Court remands murder suspect as defence plans no-case submission

A Cross River State High Court (8) sitting in Calabar for the
fourth time on Thursday remanded a murder suspect, Godwin Elewana
at the Afokang Prisons for allegedly killing a 22-year-old boy,
Douglas Ojugbo, whom he suspected was having an affair with his
daughter, Mercy.

Elewana, who resides within the precinct of the Cross River
Basin Development Authority in Eight Miles, a suburb of Calabar
metropolis, was accused of killing Douglas on March 10, 2015.
It was learnt that Elewana shot Douglas in the arm and leg and
allowed the boy to bleed to death after which he bundled him into
his car and took the corpse to the Federal Housing Police Station
in Calabar.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday in case HC/9C/2015,
Investigating Police Officer, Charles Abasi-Umoh (a Deputy
Superintendent of Police), said the details of his investigations
showed that the accused committed the crime.

Abasi-Umoh, who was being cross-examined by the defence counsel,
said in the course of his investigation, he met a security agent
with the Cross River Basin Authority, Rita Charles, who affirmed
that she was on duty on March 10, 2015 when the accused shot the
deceased.

A pump action gun had earlier been tendered as exhibit as the
gun allegedly used by the accused in shooting the deceased.

“In the course of my investigation, I found out that the accused
had made several statements all of which have similar contents. The
accused has made confessional statement to the effect that he fired
the gun that killed the deceased. This position was also affirmed
by a security agent with the Cross River Basin Authority, Rita
Charles,” he said.

However, defence counsel, Mr. Charles Ukaegbu, disagreed with
the IPO, saying that the accused’s statement was written by the
police which he said should not be relied on.

Ukaegbo therefore informed the court that he was going to file a
no-case submission during the next trial.

However, the judge, Justice Ukpa Ebitam, remanded the accused in
prison custody and adjourned the matter till October 11 for further
hearing.

Meanwhile, mother of the deceased, Mrs. Maria Ojugbo, said that
her family was seeking justice for their late son.

Ojugbo said that her son was of good character and friendly to
all those around him, lamenting that she had never ceased to weep
since his death.

A Cross River State High Court (8) sitting in Calabar for the
fourth time on Thursday remanded a murder suspect, Godwin Elewana
at the Afokang Prisons for allegedly killing a 22-year-old boy,
Douglas Ojugbo, whom he suspected was having an affair with his
daughter, Mercy.

Elewana, who resides within the precinct of the Cross River
Basin Development Authority in Eight Miles, a suburb of Calabar
metropolis, was accused of killing Douglas on March 10, 2015.
It was learnt that Elewana shot Douglas in the arm and leg and
allowed the boy to bleed to death after which he bundled him into
his car and took the corpse to the Federal Housing Police Station
in Calabar.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday in case HC/9C/2015,
Investigating Police Officer, Charles Abasi-Umoh (a Deputy
Superintendent of Police), said the details of his investigations
showed that the accused committed the crime.

Abasi-Umoh, who was being cross-examined by the defence counsel,
said in the course of his investigation, he met a security agent
with the Cross River Basin Authority, Rita Charles, who affirmed
that she was on duty on March 10, 2015 when the accused shot the
deceased.

A pump action gun had earlier been tendered as exhibit as the
gun allegedly used by the accused in shooting the deceased.

“In the course of my investigation, I found out that the accused
had made several statements all of which have similar contents. The
accused has made confessional statement to the effect that he fired
the gun that killed the deceased. This position was also affirmed
by a security agent with the Cross River Basin Authority, Rita
Charles,” he said.

However, defence counsel, Mr. Charles Ukaegbu, disagreed with
the IPO, saying that the accused’s statement was written by the
police which he said should not be relied on.

Ukaegbo therefore informed the court that he was going to file a
no-case submission during the next trial.

However, the judge, Justice Ukpa Ebitam, remanded the accused in
prison custody and adjourned the matter till October 11 for further
hearing.

Meanwhile, mother of the deceased, Mrs. Maria Ojugbo, said that
her family was seeking justice for their late son.

Ojugbo said that her son was of good character and friendly to
all those around him, lamenting that she had never ceased to weep
since his death.