The trial of dismissed officers facing prosecution for allegedly torturing five Ikokwu mechanics and leading to death of one was again stalled on Friday following the absence of counsel to first and fourth defendants who would have continued with cross-examination of second prosecution witness.
Elder David Obuo was to cross-examine second prosecution witness Ifeanyi Osuji but was absent when the case was called.
The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima, therefore adjourned the case to 12, 17 and 18 August for continuation of cross-examination.
She said the court was doing its best to speed up trial of the case but defence counsels were taking it for granted and warned that she would not take any more of such behaviour.
Speaking in an interview, the prosecuting counsel Chidi Ekeh said: “The cross-examination couldn’t go on for them to have fully cross-examined the PW Two Ifeanyi Osuji who has been in the box for quite some time and that was as a result of the absence of the counsel to the first and fourth defendants who had earlier commenced cross-examination but was not available to cross-examine”.
The defendants Ayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzo, Egbunafu Felix and Sergeant Rose Georgewill face five counts of murder and act with intent to maim.
They were in court as well as defence counsels.
The first defendant Ayogu Fidelis, second defendant Eke Chibuzo and third and fourth defendants respectively Egbunafu Felix and Sergeant Rose Georgewill were in prison clothes at the hearing.
One of the mechanics Chima Ikwunado allegedly died in detention from alleged police torture.
They were arrested for allegedly driving against traffic in December 2019.
One of the prosecution witnesses previously told the court they were arrested for driving against traffic but said that the police had taken their money and phones after the arrest.
However, a defence counsel, Barrister Kingston Nwinee, who previously spoke in an interview over charges of murder and act with intent to maim against the defendants said that his client was facing trumped-up charges.
He said that he would ensure justice was done in the case adding that it was responsibility of prosecuting counsel to prove his case.
