July 18, (THEWILL) — Controversy, late Thursday, trailed the ruling of the State High Court quashing the 16-count charge brought against two persons accused of allegedly killing a husband, his wife and two others in a church at Azikoro community in August 2020.
The presiding Judge, Justice I. Eradiri of the State High Court 4, while discharging and acquitting, Dankaba Sinime (39) and Dawereghe Raymond (28) of the 16-count charge of murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and malicious intent, declared that the confessions of the accused were allegedly obtained under duress and against the Evidence Act.
The ruling, which was delivered on Thursday, visibly shocked the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Iyobosa Esq., and the operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command.
When one of the defence counsel expressed appreciation to the Presiding Judge over the ruling of the court, Justice Eradiri waved it off, admitting that ” four persons died”.
Also, when the Presiding Judge was asked what to do with the AK-49 rifle purportedly recovered from the home of the accused, he directed that the weapon should be handed to the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, for safekeeping.
However, the families of the four murdered members of the Lion of Judah Church located at Azikoro town in the state capital were openly seen shedding tears at the court premises, placing curses on those they accused of denying their deceased members justice.
Some direct relatives openly rolled on the ground and called on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and State Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, to take a second look at the rolling and ensure that the murdered person gets justice.
A member of the Church, identified as Stephen, told our correspondent that “our murdered brothers and sisters were denied justice today by the court.
“The way the justice system in Bayelsa recycles criminals is contributing to crime in the state. Witnesses identified these accused, and the police and the State Justice Ministry found them culpable. But the judge found them Innocent of all charges. It is pathetic.”
Recall that on the 5th August 2020, at about 23:00 hours, armed suspected cultists stormed the ‘Lion of Judah Church’ in Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, shot dead four church members, namely: Alfred Marcus, 30, Imomotimi, surname unknown, 25, Gabriel Ejimofor, 45, and Uchechukwu Ejimofor, 38, and set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church property.
Operatives of Operation Puff Adder had earlier traced the hideouts of the cultists in the bush, dislodged them, and burnt their camp. An AK-49 rifle was recovered from the accused, who, in their confessional statements written by them and under video coverage, admitted being members of the notorious cult groups, the Bobos.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
