Attempts by the Nigerian Police to
arraign five of its officers alleged to
have had a hand in the gruesome
murder of the leader of the Boko
Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, has
suffered a setback.
Two years after Yusuf’s
controversial death in police
custody, police authorities,
yesterday brought five accused
officers before a Federal High Court,
sitting in Abuja for prosecution.
Brought to court were; Assistant
Commissioner of Police (ASP) J.B
Abang, ACP Akera; CSP Mohammed
Ahmed; ACP Adamu Garba and
Sergeant Adamu Gado.
Although, the accused persons
where called to the dock before
Justice Donatus Okorowa, charges
could not be read to them to enable
them take their plea.
Reason was that the police filed two
similar charges against them and
the court in its wisdom ordered that
the charges be consolidated by the
prosecution counsel, R.O. Ojabo.
The decision was reached in the
chambers where Justice Okorowa
invited all the counsel in the matter
to take a position on the shoddy
development.
The defence team included Mr. Paul
Erokoro (SAN) who appeared for
ACP Abang and Mr. Edwin Inegedo
appeared for Sergeant Gado. The
trio of ACP Akera, ACP Garba and
CSP Ahmed had no legal
representation in court.
The accused persons looked
unruffled even as they avoided
contact with cameras with most of
them covering their faces with
newspaper copies and
handkerchiefs.
The matter has since been
adjourned to July 19 for hearing.
Yusuff, who was arrested by
officers of the Nigerian Army on July
29, 2009 and handed over to the
Police but was alleged to have been
summarily killed the following day.