A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered that a 20-year-old student, Austin Ife be remanded in a correction centre for alleged murder and belonging to a cult group. Ife who lives at No 22 Solomon Akaahan Street in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue was charged with criminal conspiracy, membership of unlawful society to Wit cultism and culpable homicide. However, the Magistrate, Mrs Ada Jack did not take his plea for want in jurisdiction. Jack adjourned the matter until Oct 10, for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp James Ewaoche told the court that the case was received at the DZ Section, State CID, Makurdi on Sept. 7, 2022 via a letter dated Sept. 6, 2022 from the Nigerian Police ‘A’ Division, Gboko. Ewaoche told the court that the letter stated that on Sept. 5, 2022, the father of the deceased, Mr John Akpershi reported the matter at the police station in Gboko, Benue. He said that Akpershi reported that armed men attacked and killed his son at Mimi hotel, GRA, Gboko.
The prosecutor said that six persons were then arrested and arraigned at Magistrates’ Court 5, Makurdi in 2022 for committing the crime. He said further investigation by the police, led to the arrest of Ife in July and he confessed to being a member of the‘Black Axe” confraternity. He said that the police also recovered some weapons from him. He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004 and 11(2) of the abduction, hostage taking, kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities prohibition laws of Benue, 2017. (NAN)