Date Published: 05/27/09

Ritual Murder Trial: “Produce Proof of Evidence or I will Strike out your Case” _ Magistrate tells Police.

*Lawyer assaulted in Court

A Lagos State Magistrate Court yesterday granted the prayers of investigative Journalist, Mr. Steve Ugwu-Chinua that the Lagos State Police Command must mandatorily produce proof of evidence that there was indeed an act of fraud and extortion against ritual murder suspect, Mrs. Oyindamola Amuka. 
 
At the resumed hearing on the case in which Lagos State Police had arraigned Mr. Ugwu-Chinua for allegedly conniving to extort forty thousand pounds sterling (£40,000) from Mrs. Amuka who allegedly sacrificed a yet to be identified 11 year old boy, Magistrate A.Y. Omoyele also issued a mandatory order to the Police to produce all Police Officers involved in investigating the original accusation against Mrs. Amuka, and those who investigated Mr. Ugwu-Chinua. Magistrate Omoyele who held forte for the presiding magistrate, Magistrate Badejo Okusanya presently on leave, told the Police to make available the proof of evidence or else the case by the Police against Mr. Ugwu-Chinua would be struck out.  

During Wednesday hearing held at Magistrate Court 8, Ikeja lead defense counsel Chief Giwa Amu told the Court that the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Marvelous Akpoyibo's conduct over the matter had been nothing but that of a "Common criminal in Uniform".

The prosecution team was literally flustered with unexpected questions from Chief Amu.

Police acknowledged that he received a certified application from the defense council in respect of producing proof of evidence on allegations against Mr. Ugwu-Chinua.

The prosecution also was in the affirmative that Chief Amu had requested that the prematurely retired investigative officers be invited as witnesses on Mr. Ugwu-Chinua’s claim that Mrs. Oyindamola Amuka did commit ritual murder.

The prosecution team also said that it received the copy of the petition sent to the Police Complaint Commission but that they simply chose to ignore the applications.

The prosecution team was overwhelmed.

Chief Amu thereafter proceeded to submit that “Mr. Marvelous Akpoyibo is the worst Commissioner of Police, Lagos State has ever had, and he has continued to flout court orders with impunity with assumed immunity. He is worse than James Danbaba, presently in Kirikiri Prison.”

Chief Amu, in asking the Magistrate to compel the Police to provide proof of evidence against his client also described C.P Akpoyibo as deceptive and an embarrassment to the integrity of the Nigerian Nation, “He is worse than James Danbaba presently sitting in Kirikiri maximum Prison".     
 
The human right lawyer told the Magistrate that Akpoyibo's tenure has been a nightmare for Lagosians and the Nigerian judicial system. According to him, it was on heard of that a Judge will be beaten in Court but that under Akpoyibo, men of Lagos Police Command physically assaulted and critically injured a magistrate in a Court. 
 
Mrs. Omoyele granted the request of the defense counsel, Chief Amu and adjourned substantive hearing over the matter to June 24, 2009. 
 
Paradoxically, and assailant said to be Chief Amuka’s son accosted and physically assaulted Chief Amu at the court premises on Wednesday. The man, wearing a blue shirt over grey pant was instantly tackled by one of the lawyers from AG Amu and Co chambers. Having been subdued, the assailant shouted abuses and threats “we will see to it that you are not alive by the next court sitting.” There was serious pandemonium because of the incident. The man later drove away in a blue color Toyota Corolla.

Mr. Samuel Pemu Amuka whose wife is accused of killing the yet to be identified innocent boy was in court so also was his wife, Oyindamola Amuka. Mr. Amuka looked gaunt and rather like a rain beaten rat. He was wearing a grey French suit. His wife was wearing a red dress. All the retinue of society ladies has now disappeared with their flamboyant head gears that use to mock the Nigerian Judicial process.  

Yesterday’s assault was the first real manifestation of the long list of threats against Chief Amu, Mr. Ugwu-Chinua and The Editors of pointblanknews.com. There have been reports of Mr. Akpoyibo and Amuka plotting to stage “Police accidental shootings” and possible sending of contract killers after people who have been seeking to expose the dastardly killing of the unknown 11year old boy.