The second prosecution witness called in the trial of four dismissed officers over alleged torture of five Ikokwu mechanics testified on Friday of how they were tortured.
The witness, Ifeanyi Osuji, who took the witness box and testified said they were allegedly tortured with machete by the police.
He also said the police had collected money on them including phones.
The witness said that they were arrested while driving against the traffic on Agip flyover.
He said that they took the flyover and drove against the traffic because there was a traffic congestion on Ikwerre Road. He said that the police had arrested them on the flyover.
Osuji said that the police who were in Highlander Jeep started shooting on sighting them and asked them to come down from their vehicle.
He said five of them were handcuffed adding that he and his colleague, Victor Ogbonna, were put in the boot of the police vehicle while Chima Ikwunado, Ifeanyi Onyekwere and Osaze Friday were put in the vehicle and taken to Mile One Police Station.
The witness testified that the police also drove their two cars to the station.
He said that he had told the police the cars were not stolen.
One of the Ikokwu five, Chima Ikwunado, died in detention from alleged torture by police.
Asked by prosecuting counsel if he knew Ikwunado, the witness said he knew the mechanic and said that they worked together at the Ikokwu workshop.
He also said that he remembered December 19, 2019 when they were arrested.
He said that they worked on two vehicles and were driving them home because they could not finish on time. He also said that the cars belonged to customers.
The four defendants Ayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzor, Egbunafu Felix and Rose Georgewill are facing trial on a five-count charge of alleged murder and intent to maim.
They were previously dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and before then worked in the Eagle Crack Unit of the force at Mile One Station.
They were in prison uniform at the trial on Friday in the case between the State and the defendants.
Previously, the first prosecution witness, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, who was one of the victims, told the court that they were only brought out to make statement after Ikwunado died in cell.
Onyekwere, who was cross-examined, had told the court no one was allowed to see them until January 2020.
He also said that they were tortured by the defendants.
At a point into testimony by the second prosecution witness, the presiding judge of Port-Harcourt High Court, Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima, adjourned the case for continuation of hearing to 12, 29 and 30 March.
