By Onyeje Abutu
The Police Command in Benue on Friday arraigned three men before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly strangulating one Ambrose Abah, 65, to death.
The men are Alexander Okoh, Joseph Ochai and Innocent Audu.
They are standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Ato, told court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ugbokolo, Benue to the state CID, Makurdi for investigation via a letter dated May 22.
He told court that the son of the deceased reported the matter at Ugbokolo Police State on May 17.
“According to the letter, on May 17, the son of the deceased, Christian Abah, reported at the Ugbokolo Police Station that his father was strangulated to death by a group of armed men.
“Abah reported at the station that the armed men invaded his father’s compound and robbed all the residents of their valuables and money.
“He reported that the accused men strangled his father, who was contesting for the clan head of Ai-Akor to death,”Ato stated.
The prosecutor stated further that the deceased lived with his son and other family members at Ai-Akor Okonobo Village in Okpokwu Local Government Area Benue.
He said that the accused were arrested in connection with crimes during police investigation, while others were still at large.
The pleas of the accused were not taken for want of jurisdiction when the case came up.
The offence is punishable under Sections 97, 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State, 2004.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Isaac Ajim, ordered that the accused should be remanded at the Federal Prisons in Makurdi.
He adjourned the matter to July 18 for further mention.
