A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, ordered the remand of two farmers, Stephen Onah and Joseph Adoga, in a correctional centre for allegedly killing a man, Moses Eka, during a wake. The farmers, who both live at Ikwokwu Ito in Obi Logo Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Roseline Iyorshie, did not, however, take their plea for want of jurisdiction.
Iyorshie adjourned the matter till Aug 23 for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obarike, Obi Local Government Area via a letter to the State CID, Makurdi on July 12 for proper investigation.
Ato said the letter, dated July 11, stated that one John Onum, of Ikwokwu Ito, had reported at the police station that his son, Moses, was shot dead by one Stephen Onah.
The complainant stated that his son went for a wake in honour of Adoga Odey on June 28 and that while people were gathered there, Onah started shooting gun into the air with a locally-made pistol. He said that in the process, Onah shot his son on the stomach and he died on the spot.
The prosecutor said that Onah was arrested during police investigation and that he had confessed to committing the offence. He said that the defendant told the police that it was the son of the deceased, Joseph Adoga, who gave him the pistol to shoot in the air as a mark of traditional gun salute in honour of his late father.
The offences, according to Ato, contravene Sections 6(B) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and Section 222 of the Penal Code, Law of Benue, 2004. (NAN)
