The officers involved in the alleged torture of the five Ikoku mechanics were put on trial on Thursday at the State High Court.
This came after the Rivers State government had taken over the case from the State Police Command.
The four accused officers earlier dismissed were arraigned on a five-count charge of murder and act with intent to maim.
They were arraigned before Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima of the state High Court.
The accused police officers Dayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzo, Egbunafu Felix and Rose Georgewill pleaded not guilty to the charges. They are being prosecuted for the alleged torture of the five Ikoku mechanics leading to the death of one of the mechanics.
They were earlier tried at the State Chief Magistrate Court on a seven-count charge before Chief Magistrate Promise Iroanya who ruled that the case file should be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The seven counts bordered on conspiracy and murder and attempted murder.
One of the five mechanics, Chima Ikwunado, was allegedly tortured to death in the detention of Eagle Crack Team.
They were arrested late last year for allegedly driving against traffic and were reportedly later charged with cultism and armed robbery.
Their arrest and the death of Ikwunado sparked social media outrage as people had called for justice with the hashtag #Ikoku4 which trended on social media.
On Thursday, the presiding judge had ruled that the prosecution should make available every material relied on in the case for the defence and adjourned to 20 October for hearing.
Speaking to court reporters outside the courtroom, the principal state counsel, Chidi Ekeh, said that the state government took over the case because it was its responsibility to prosecute crime.
Ekeh said that crimes were committed against the state and not against individuals adding that it was the state’s responsibility to ensure that its laws were not violated.
The principal state counsel said: “It is the responsibility of the state, the Office of the Attorney-General to prosecute crimes. It’s the responsibility of the state to make sure that its laws are respected and obeyed and when anybody goes contrary to the law it is the responsibility of the office of the Attorney-General to prosecute every crime and that is why we took it over from the police”.
One of the defence counsels speaking to reporters said: “The main issue that arose was that the defendants had not been supplied with the materials for their defence. That is why the court made an order that before the next hearing the prosecution should avail all the defendants with the materials for their defence. Every person charged with an offence has a right to fair hearing” adding that they were “entitled” to the provision of the materials to prepare for their defence.
