Alleged Ritual Murder: Lagos Court subpoenaes IG

*Says police must present witnesses

*Adjourns till April 27, 2009.

An expected change of tide at Justice Ipayi Nwachukwu’s Magistrate Court 19, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, against the Nigeria Police and the Amuka family.

The Police prosecution team which had arraigned Lagos Freelance investigative reporter, Mr. Steve Ogwu-Chinuwa in February, over allegations of blackmail and extortion fumbled and failed to make its case before Justice Nwachukwu on Monday.

Instead, the Police, whose Inspector General, Mr. Mike Okiro, was subpoenaed by Defense Counsel, Chief Giwa Amu, got desperate in applying for adjournment of the case.

Justice Nwachukwu granted the application for adjournment and expressly stated that it was for the purpose of allowing the Police to amend its failure to produce witnesses at Monday’s resumed hearing.

The Court adjourned its next hearing of the matter to April 27 th, 2009.

Lead Counsel for Mr. Ogwu-Chinuwa, Chief Giwa Amu, after the sitting of the court yesterday, diffused tension over alleged initial high bar set by Justice Nwachukwu in the bail terms of his client saying that he is sure that “fairness and justice shall prevail.”

He expressed hope that the mandatory summon served on the Police Inspector-General, Mr. Okiro would go a long way in shedding more light on the hidden aspects of the case in which the wife of Vanguard Newspaper’s Publisher, Mrs. Oyindamola Amuka was alleged to have beheaded a yet to be identified boy for rituals.

The Police was said to still be in possession of some of Mr. Ogwu-Chinuwa’s private properties said to be vital to assisting the Defense in preparing its case.

Some of the items purportedly include the journalist’s cell phone accessories and other electronic recording device. The court did not make a pronouncement on that during Monday’s hearing.

Also, the hearing was devoid of the largely orchestrated media circus of the first sitting which led to the smear of pointblanknews.com by Vanguard which understandably could not temper its vested interest over the matter.

In court yesterday was Mrs. Amuka, whom Mr. Ogwu-Chinuwa had unsuccessfully campaigned to be tried for alleged ritual murder. Her, husband, Mr. Samuel Pemu-Amuka was also there. Several family friends also came with them.

For Steve Ogwu-Chinuwa, there was reprieve last week, as the terms for his bail were eventually met. But the management of National Life newspaper, where he used to freelance refused to take him back. National Life newspaper is owned by Ex-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

There is also alleged noticeable trailing of Mr. Ogwu-Chinuwa who continues to stay underground for fear of attack by unknown hit men.

Editors of pointblanknews.com have also received calls from Nigeria warning them to stay away from the country, their native country, as they claim “Amuka is after you.”