The second prosecution witness called in the trial of four dismissed officers over alleged torture of five Ikokwu mechanics continued his testimony on Friday saying they were tortured by the police.
The prosecution witness, Ifeanyi Osuji, who was in the witness box told the court police had on December 21, 2019 called out two of the victims, Chima Ikwunado and Ifeanyi Onyekwere, and when they returned to cell could not walk and had injuries.
He said Ikwunado told them they were tied and blindfolded and severely tortured.
The witness said that Ikwunado, one of the mechanics, allegedly died in cell.
He said they had no food and water while they were in cell.
The witness said he had known two of the victims before the day they were arrested.
The prosecuting counsel, Chidi Ekeh, tendered picture as evidence showing machete wound on the head of second prosecution witness but the defence counsels had objected to the admissibility of the picture as evidence.
However, the presiding judge of the High Court, Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima, admitted the picture as evidence.
The second prosecution witness who testified at an earlier court hearing said they were arrested by the police while driving against traffic on Agip flyover.
He said they took the flyover and drove against traffic because there was congestion on the road.
He also said that the police collected their money and phones.
When he was asked at the hearing by the prosecuting counsel if he knew Ikwunado, the witness said he knew the mechanic saying that they worked together at a workshop at Ikokwu Junction.
He also said he remembered December 19, 2019, the day they were arrested.
He also said they worked on two vehicles and were driving them home because they could not finish on time.
He also said the cars belonged to customers.
At the hearing on Friday, the four defendants stood in the dock throughout the trial before the court.
Sergeant Rose Georgewill and the three other officers of the Nigerian Police Force were dismissed from the force when they faced charges of alleged murder and intent to maim. The three other dismissed officers are Eke Chibuzor, Egbunafu Felix and Ayogu Fidelis.
In an interview, counsel to third defendant, Barrister Kingston Lucky Nwinee, said that the charges were trumped-up charges and they were “not even bothered about it”.
He said they were watching the proceedings and doing their best to protect interest of the defendants.
He said that the prosecution had the responsibility to prove beyond reasonable doubt case against the defendants saying until that would be done, there would be no case against them.
The case is between the Rivers State government and the defendants.
The next hearing is for 29 March.
