Oyerinde: Ugolor, nine others arraigned, remanded

By Osagie Otabor, Benin 

Oshiomhole

An activist,the Reverend David Ugolor, and nine others yesterday appeared before an Oredo Magistrate Court, Benin, charged with  the May 4,2012 murder of Mr.Olaitan Oyerinde, principal private secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. 

In the dock with Ugolor,the Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, were: Garba Usman Maisamari, Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru Ali, Umaru Adamu, Wilfred Isrhienhi, Hassan Aliyu Babete and Idris Abdulhamid.

 The police case- No: MOR/326c/2012- against them runs thus: "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 Lawsa 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 yourselves 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 Garba Usman Maisamari,  Danjuma Musa,  Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru Ali, Umaru Adamu alias Duna and Rev. David Ugolor at the same date, time and place and the Magisterial District aforesaid did murder one Olaitan Oyerinde and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code  ACT CAP C 38 Laws of the Federation  of Nigeria, 2004.

 "That you Garba Usman Maisamari, Muritala Usman, Moses Asamah Okoro, Auta Umaru Ali, Umaru Adamu alias Duna, Rev. David Ugolor and others at large on the same date, time and place and in the Magisterial District aforesaid with intent to steal and while armed with three locally made pistols, did rob Olaitan Oyerinde now deceased of the following items: (a) five blackberry telephone handsets, (b) one Nokia telephone handset with torchlight (c) two  Galaxy Tab (d)Two (2) laptop computers (e)Jewelries (f) One English made single barrel gun value yet unknown and some unspecified amount of money property of one Olaitan Oyerinde (deceased) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act CAP R II. 

"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.

 "That you Rev. David Ugolor on the same date, time and place and at the Magisterial District did procure one Garba Usman Maisamari to murder one Olaitan Oyerinde now deceased and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7 (d) and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

 "That you Wilfred Iserhienrhien on the same date, time and place and in the Magisterial District aforesaid did illegally possess some quantities of AAA cartridges without lawful excuses and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7 (d) punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

 "That you  Hassan Aliyu Babete and Idris Abdulahamid on the about same date, time and place and at the Magisterial District aforesaid did receive Blackberry Bold Touch 5 value yet unknown property of one Olaitan Oyerinde now deceased and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) ACT CAP R. II Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.” 

No plea was taken but a  mild drama ensued  when two of the suspects-Auta Umaru and Usman Maisamari-told the court that they did not  understand the charges read to them. 

Usman Maisamari was the suspect would identified Ugolor as the sponsor of Oyerinde's murder.

 They are being remanded at Oko Prison. 

However,the  six suspects arrested by the State Security Services (SSS) in connection with the murder were not brought to court. 

A mild drama, however, occurred when two of the suspects claimed not to understand the charges when they were read to them. 

Lead counsel to Rev. Ugolor, Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi, informed the court that an Edo State High Court had already granted his client bail but that the police refused to obey.

 Barr. 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, 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. 

He ordered the suspects remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to 27th September, 2012 for further hearing. 

The court room was full to the brim, especially by the  family, friends and associates of  Ugolor .Of note was the heavy presence of members of   Civil Society groups in the state. 

Ugolor wore  a jacket and a pair of   jeans. He beamed with smiles .

All the accused persons were handcuffed. 

 On the High Court order, Magistrate Idiake said: "It will be in the interest of justice to obey court orders. I am aware of the court order. I think it is only fair that the order is complied with. I have no jurisdiction over this matter." 

Afolabi expressed satisfaction at the court ruling,  while the  police counsel said he could not say  why the suspects arrested by the SSS were not brought to court.

SOURCE: 1 September 2012.