The trial of dismissed officers facing prosecution for the alleged torture of five Ikokwu mechanics and leading to death of one, continues today after it was disrupted by a strike by state branch of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The trial was disrupted when JUSUN went on strike to demand financial autonomy for judiciary.
The case is between Rivers State government and defendants who face five counts of murder and act with intent to maim but had pleaded not guilty.
The state government had taken over the case from police to prosecute the defendants.
The dismissed officers Dayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzo, Egbunafu Felix and Sergeant Rose Georgewill were dismissed from the force before the trial.
The victims were allegedly tortured by the dismissed officers as operatives of disbanded Eagle Crack team which had led to the death of one of the mechanics Chima Ikwunado who allegedly died in detention.
They were Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Ifeanyi Osuji, Victor Ogbonna and Osaze Friday who were arrested for allegedly driving against traffic.
In November last year one of the victims Ifeanyi Onyekwere told the court that they were being tortured by operatives of the disbanded unit.
Appearing as prosecution witness, he told the court that they were arrested by operatives of disbanded Eagle Crack unit, saying the police shot sporadically to threaten them before the arrest.
He said Chima Ikwunado who allegedly died in detention and himself were brought out from cell on the second day of arrest and allegedly tortured from 5am to 6pm by police.
He told the court the victim became seriously ill and died in detention.
He said that they were tortured on December 21, 2019 saying that he sustained injury on his thigh, right arm and foot and had tendered pictures as evidence.
However, counsels to first, second, third and fourth defendants urged the court not to admit the exhibits as evidence but prosecuting counsel Chidi Ekeh urged the court to admit as evidence the exhibits tendered by the witness.
The case is before Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima of Port-Harcourt High Court.
The victims were arrested two years ago for allegedly driving against traffic and taken to Mile One police station.
A second prosecution witness, Ifeanyi Osuji, told the court they were allegedly being tortured.
The witness had said Ifeanyi Onyekwere and Chima Ikwunado had injuries and could not walk when they returned to the cell.
He said that one of the victims allegedly died in cell.
He told the court they were driving against traffic because there was congestion but had said that the police took their money and phones.
However, one of the counsels, Barrister Kingston Lucky Nwinee, said in an interview that his client was facing trumped-up charges adding that he was watching proceedings and doing his best to protect interest of his client.
He had said it was prosecution’s responsibility to prove the case against the defendants saying that until that would be done there was no case against them.
