The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has granted bail to four defendants standing trial over the fatal shooting of Oghenemine Ogidi at Effurun Motor Park while the first defendant Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Usman Nuhu popularly known as Ogbegbe remains in custody.
The development followed the conclusion of the defence cases of all five defendants charged in connection with the April 26 incident.
The trial judge Justice Michael Nduka Obi granted bail to the second-to-fifth defendants: Owoloko Daurou Okoh Kelechi Goodluck Kingsley and Omonigho Ahweyevu.
The five defendants were members of the Anti-Crime Squad led by Nuhu at the Effurun Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force before they were dismissed from service following the incident.
The prosecution led by the Delta State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr Tejiri R. Anuwhin alongside Deputy Director Mr Justin Amahi and Principal State Counsel Miss Oghenechavwuko Agbatutu confirmed that the prosecution had closed its case after calling six witnesses while the defendants had also concluded their defence.
Anuwhin said the defendants presented their evidence and called a witness before closing their cases paving the way for the parties to adopt final written addresses.
He said the court adjourned the matter to November 18 for the parties to adopt their addresses after which it would fix a date for judgment.
Speaking after the proceedings counsel for Nuhu Mr Uche Chibuogwu said his client remained in custody because no bail application had been filed on his behalf.
He explained that the other four defendants secured bail because their lawyers had filed the requisite applications.
‘Today we opened our defence for the first defendant and we concluded our case. The second third fourth and fifth defendants’ counsel did the same. The second to the fifth defendants were granted bail because bail applications were filed on their behalf but the first defendant remains in custody’ he said.
Chibuogwu acknowledged the pain suffered by the deceased’s family and friends describing the case as a difficult one to handle.
He however said his professional and constitutional responsibility required him to represent his client.
‘For the deceased person like I said earlier it’s quite unfortunate. And this defence is a difficult one for me but I have to do my constitutional duty as a lawyer’ he said.
The court adjourned the case to November 18 for the submission of final written addresses with judgment expected to follow.