Oyerinde’s Murder: Court remands Ugolor, others in prison

The late Olaitan Oyerinde

An Oredo Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City on Friday remanded 10 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Olaitan Oyerinde, the former Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in prison custody.
They were remanded in Oko prison.
The suspects arraigned by the police included the Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, David Ugolor, Garba Usman Maisamari, Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru Ali, Umaru Adamu, Wilfred Isrhienhi, Hassan Aliyu Babete and Idris Abdulhamid.
They were arraigned on an eight- count in a suit with charge no MOR/326c/2012.
However, the suspects arrested by the State Security Services were not brought to court.
The charged sheet reads: “That you, Garba Usman Maisamari, Danjuma Musa, Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru, Umaru Adamu alias Duna and Rev. David Ugolor and others now at large on or about the 4th day of May, 2012 at about 01:00am at No 65; 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA Benin City at the Oredo Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 (b) and punishable under Section 1(2)(a)and (b) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, CAP R II Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
“That Garba Usman Maisamari, Danjuma Musa, Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru Ali, Umaru Adamu, Rev. David Ugolor and others at large on the same date, time and place and in the Magisterial District aforesaid, did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C.38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
“That you Rev. David Ugolor on the same date, time and place and at the Magisterial District aforesaid did procure one Garba Usman Maisamari to rob one Olaitan Oyerinde now deceased and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(a) but punishable under secion 1 (2)(a) and (b) Robbery and Firearms ACT CAP RII of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
A mild drama however, occurred when two of the suspects claimed not to understand the charges read to them.
Lead Counsel to Mr Ugolor, Olayiwola Afolabi, informed the court that an Edo State High Court has already granted his client bail but the police refused to comply with the directive.
Mr Afolabi urged the court to make an order asking the police to duplicate the case file and dropped a copy with the prosecutor.
But Police Counsel, David Abuo, said there was no order stopping the Magistrate Court from hearing the matter.
Delivering ruling, the Chief Magistrate Francis Idiake said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.