Murder Of 3 NNPC Engineers At Arepo: Absence Of Witness Stalls Trial
— April 1, 2014
The absence of a prosecution witness on Tuesday stalled the
trial of 10 men charged with pipeline vandalism and murder at Arepo,
Ogun, at a Federal High Court, Lagos.
The accused are Joel Inerepamu, 25; Reuben Oluwole, 60; John Isaiah, 28; Ineye Okposa, 40; Timi Gunuguu, 22; and Olisa Saheed, 25.
Others are Jigo Jiperende, 31; Timi Koro, 29; Johnbosco Igbhofose, 26; and Peter Opidi, 28.
They are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on vandalism and murder.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the trial was halted because the prosecutor, Justin Enang, could not produce his witness in court.
Enang informed the court that the witness had travelled for the burial ceremony of his father, and urged the court to grant a short adjournment.
In a swift reaction, Justice Mohammed Idris cautioned the prosecutor against time wasting and general handling of the case.
He reminded the prosecutor that the accused had been in prison custody since 2012 when they were arrested.
Idris said he had granted accelerated hearing of the case because of its criminal nature.
The judge threatened to vacate the order for accelerated hearing and admit the accused persons to bail if the prosecutor failed to diligently prosecute his case at the next date of adjournment.
He adjourned the case to May 8 for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were re-arraigned on April 29, 2013 on an amended seven-count charge.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge of vandalism and murder.
The judge had ordered the 10 accused to be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons and granted accelerated hearing of the case.
Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 5, 2012 at about 6.00 p.m. at Arepo.
He said the accused had conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline located in the area and scooped large quantities of petrol for sale.
He alleged that the accused, on sighting engineers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on routine maintenance of the pipelines, opened fire on them.
Three of the engineers were immediately shot dead, Enang added.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 3(6), 7(a), 7(b), and 17(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The offence of murder contravenes the provisions of Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
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The accused are Joel Inerepamu, 25; Reuben Oluwole, 60; John Isaiah, 28; Ineye Okposa, 40; Timi Gunuguu, 22; and Olisa Saheed, 25.
Others are Jigo Jiperende, 31; Timi Koro, 29; Johnbosco Igbhofose, 26; and Peter Opidi, 28.
They are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on vandalism and murder.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the trial was halted because the prosecutor, Justin Enang, could not produce his witness in court.
Enang informed the court that the witness had travelled for the burial ceremony of his father, and urged the court to grant a short adjournment.
In a swift reaction, Justice Mohammed Idris cautioned the prosecutor against time wasting and general handling of the case.
He reminded the prosecutor that the accused had been in prison custody since 2012 when they were arrested.
Idris said he had granted accelerated hearing of the case because of its criminal nature.
The judge threatened to vacate the order for accelerated hearing and admit the accused persons to bail if the prosecutor failed to diligently prosecute his case at the next date of adjournment.
He adjourned the case to May 8 for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were re-arraigned on April 29, 2013 on an amended seven-count charge.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge of vandalism and murder.
The judge had ordered the 10 accused to be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons and granted accelerated hearing of the case.
Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 5, 2012 at about 6.00 p.m. at Arepo.
He said the accused had conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline located in the area and scooped large quantities of petrol for sale.
He alleged that the accused, on sighting engineers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on routine maintenance of the pipelines, opened fire on them.
Three of the engineers were immediately shot dead, Enang added.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 3(6), 7(a), 7(b), and 17(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The offence of murder contravenes the provisions of Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
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