The widow of late Dr. Ferry Gberegbe has said no amount of money can “remedy” her late husband’s life as she spoke from court witness box on Friday, July 12 during cross-examination.
Ronke said this while reacting to a comment by counsel to defendants, Essiene Edet, that she was asking for damages of “over eight hundred million naira” for the death of her husband.
Edet asked during cross-examination before Port-Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Adolphus Enebeli if she had contacted police or a private investigator to unravel circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.
He said the video clip played in court allegedly showing how Dr. Gberegbe was killed was an orchestrated act by some individuals to get their selfish aims but presiding judge Enebeli said he would not accept the video was an orchestrated act and the defence counsel withdrew his statement. Defence counsel’s cross-examination was based on a video clip played in court earlier.
Ronke said during the cross-examination that her husband was taken to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Port-Harcourt because they hoped he would survive in the hospital which is known for the treatment of gunshot patients.
She said this as she responded to defence counsel’s comment why Dr. Gberegbe was not taken to hospital in Khana or any nearby hospital for emergency treatment at the time he was allegedly shot.
Gberegbe’s widow shed tears as she was cross-examined.
The defence counsel said he felt her pain and quickly finished his questioning as was also directed by the judge.
The widow of late Dr. Gberegbe filed a fundamental rights suit against Commissioner of Police of Rivers State and then Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Akin Farokerede, for the death of her husband.
The Commissioner of Police of Rivers State is first defendant while Akin Fakorede is the second defendant.
Ronke said in the suit that the defendants violated the right to life of her late husband and according to her lawyer, Lezina Amegua, she’s asking for N800 million in damages.
Dr. Gberegbe was allegedly shot by officers of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on 10 March, 2019 at an INEC collation centre in Bori in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State during the 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state and was a collation agent for Peoples Democratic Party. He was reportedly rushed to hospital for treatment but died days after.
However, Fakorede has said officers of SARS did not kill late Dr. Gberegbe as he said Gberegbe died from food poisoning.
The former Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Rivers State said this when he addressed members of a joint committee from House of Representatives who were in Port-Harcourt over the 2019 general elections.
But counsel to complainant, Lezina Amegua, said in an interview that Gberebge was killed by SARS operatives alleging that the video clip played in court showed how he was killed.
Amegua said: “It is an open truth, it is naked as it is, that he was shot by men of SARS led by Akin Fakorede. It is no longer again as they claim it was. He was hit by their bullets and he fell down. He was rushed… for safety by sympathizers at the scene but unfortunately… he died some days after”.
However, defendants’ counsel, Essiene Edet, said the defendants did not kill late Dr. Gberegbe as alleged.
He said he did not oppose playing of the video clip in court but he objected to claim that the defendants killed Dr. Gberegbe.
He said: “I didn’t counter the playing of the video. I countered the averment in their deposition that we did not commit the act for which they alleged we did”.
Justice Enebeli adjourned the case to 19 July for further cross-examination.
