RIVERS: Police dismiss, arraign sergeant who allowed ritual killer to escape

Sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze, the cop under whose watch a suspected ritual killer, Ifeanyi Dike escaped from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt has been dismissed and arraigned by the police.

His dismissal and arraignment was ordered by the Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, for criminal conspiracy.

Sobbing uncontrollably while he was arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court on two counts bordering on obstruction of justice and conspiracy, Johnbosco was cautioned to cease crying by the Chief Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja.

While in court, the charges against Johnbosco read thus; “That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on August 19, 2017, at about 8.30pm at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did assist one Ifeanyi Dike, who is to your knowledge guilty of the offence of murder of one Chikamso Nmezuwuba, aged eight years, for rituals, to escape when he was to be detained for prosecution, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

“That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did conspire with a suspect, Ifeanyi Dike, and allowed him to escape from prosecution to prevent and defeat the course of justice, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 126 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

Read also: 23-yr-old man found with dead body of 8-yr-old girl escapes from police custody

In delivering his judgement, the chief magistrate observed that while the first charge could earn Johnbosco a life sentence if found guilty, the second charge could earn the dismissed police sergeant a seven-year jail term if found guilty.

However, the chief magistrate immediately declined jurisdiction of the court to handle the matter before ordering that the suspect be remanded in prison.

He adjourned the matter till September 14, 2017 for adoption of written addresses, Andrew-Jaja also directed the court registrar to transfer the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

According to reports, the ritual suspect managed to escape from police custody taking advantage of the darkness within the premises of the State Criminal Investigation Department after his handcuffs were unlocked by Johnbosco for him to write his statement.

Recounting the incident, Dr. Ernets Nmezuwuba, father of Chikamso said; “Some policemen were at the gate with guns while we were at the charge room writing statement. After we finished writing our statements, Johnbosco called the IPO to go and put the suspect in the cell. The suspect was not handcuffed at that time.

“They did not walk up to a pole when I heard hold am, hold am; he has escaped. Whether he jumped the fence or not, I cannot say because the entire place was dark; it was between 7.30 and 8pm (Saturday night). I now told Johnbosco that you know what you are doing.

“They (policemen) came out with torchlight and checked under the cars parked there. Then I saw the DCP, I mean the Deputy Commissioner of Police and he said; what nonsense is this? He then asked after Johnbosco and he was told he (Johnbosco) was inside. The DCP then said that they should handcuff both his hands and legs.”

The suspect’s escape was condemned by Rivers the state Commissioner of Police who explained that he (the suspect) escaped under the cover of the night promising that the police were on the hunt to re-arrest him.

 

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