By Jonathan Ugbal
The trial of dismissed police officer accused of the murder of one Derek Maurice Ben and 5 others continued recently with accused number nine (9), dismissed Police Sergeant Anthony Idoko cross examined by the prosecutor.
The accused had presented two documents to show that he was on morning duty but during cross examination, it was observed that some of the accused names were found on the morning roster but claimed to be on patrol as at the time the deceased were murdered.
When asked if he was close to one of the deceased; Derek Maurice Ben, the accused agreed in the affirmative but quickly added that he was “very close” to Derek’s elder brother.
He agreed that he knows Derek was among those murdered and found out in June when he (Idoko) saw Derek’s mother presenting his pictures at Zone 6 headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.
When asked by the prosecutor whether he was aware that there was no robber or cross firing as earlier stated by some of the accused, he replied; “How will I know,” and denied he ever threatened or detained the late Derek.
He also denied that Derek’s mother confronted him over threats to kill members of her family.
But, findings by CrossRiverWatch reveal that his oral evidence in court contradicts his statement at Zone 6 headquarters where a Police orderly room trial found him guilty which led to his dismissal from the force.
The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Egomi Egomi had testified in Court and gave reasons why the Police dismissed the accused while the pathologists who performed the autopsy, Dr. T. I Ugbem told the court that the lacerations and bruises as well as the hole made by the bullets suggests the deceased were murdered in cold blood after been shot at close range with some beaten and brutalized prior to their murder.
Leave feedback about this