…Deceased’s uncle blames police for derailing justice in the murder case
…Alleges the frustrating and unprofessional attitude of policemen crippled investigation
…Survivor of murder attempt and employer of murdered bricklayer calls on Gov. Obaseki, CP Kokumo, Police IG and Oba Ewuare II for justice
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]enin City – Strong indications have emerged that operatives of the homicide unit at the Edo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Police Command Headquarters, Benin City may have dumped the investigation earlier launched into the gruesome murder of a bricklayer in the state capital on Friday April 20, 2018.
Alltimepost.com reliably gathered that it is a common practice by corrupt members of the Nigeria Police Force to facilitate cash settlement in murder cases between suspects and the deceased’s families, with disregard for the enormity of the offense as against the state, creating an atmosphere of impunity which has made killings rampant in several parts of the country, especially in Edo state.
Murderers and sponsors of such crimes know that they can buy their way out any time they commit such heinous crimes against humanity – a reason, according to our investigation, why murder cases hardly show up in the court room.
In this particular story which was first broken by Alltimepost.com, the deceased bricklayer, Onorode Uteh, 37, from Delta State was allegedly murdered by one Collins, still at large, a relative of a cement seller, whose store is located at 29, Okhoromi-Egbiri road, Benin City.
According to Alltimepost.com investigation, police operatives have allegedly declined further investigation after colluding with the family of the suspect to compensate the deceased’s family who resides in Oleh, Delta State.
It was exclusively scooped that some members of the suspect’s family traveled to Delta State where they gave N1million to the deceased’s family for his burial.
Alltimepost.com also learnt that the police are never left empty-handed when such deals take place, but we have not been able to ascertain the amount of money that exchanged hands in that regard.
The complainant in the murder case, one Uyiosa Uhumwangho who claimed to be the target of the shooter but was narrowly missed by the bullets on that fateful day Onorode’s life was violently taken, stated this while expressing worries over his own safety since efforts to arrest the alleged killer and make him face justice, seemed to have been thwarted.
“The deceased’s family and the suspect’s lawyers have been calling me to come so that they can close the case and bury the deceased.
“I told them I will not be part of that because is me the boy wanted to kill, just that the bullets missed me and hit the deceased.
“I told them that if they are trying to set me up l am ready and that since they were able to settle and collect money without informing me, they can as well go ahead to bury the victim, but for me, justice must prevail,” Mr. Uhumwangho stated.
Narrating his ordeal further, Mr. Uyiosa Uhumwangho explained that as he was planning to report the strange development to the policemen he got a call from one of the officers.
Hear him: “One inspector Anslem called me and asked why I did not go and meet with the suspect’s lawyer. Then I told him that I don’t have business with the lawyer but the police.
“Inspector Anslem started shouting at me on the telephone saying what is my problem? Na me get the corpse, why don’t I go and settle with them so that they can bury the corpse?
“I was surprised; I told him I was disappointed to hear all that from him who is one of the investigators. I said I will never meet them for any form of settlement other than to see the suspect arrested and prosecuted,” Mr. Uyiosa Uhumwangho explained.
In fear for his life, Uhunmwangho called on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Police Commissioner, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Oba of Great Benin Kingdom, Ewuare II to step in and stop this glaring travesty of justice in Edo land.
Confirming the receipt of N1million compensation from the suspect’s family, uncle of the deceased one Clarke Oghenerobo said the frustrating and unprofessional attitude of the policemen coupled with shabby investigation into the mindless killing of their son forced the bereaved family to accept the money, for his burial.
Mr. Oghenerobo, while expressing sadness over the killing stated that the police Investigators proved to his bereaved family that justice in the killing of their son was beyond their reach.
He said they ought to have long buried the deceased and forget the case, but the uncompromising disposition of the man who was with the victim when he was shot to death and reported to the police.
“The problem keeping his burial now is the complainant, one Uyiosa Uhumwangho who refused to withdraw the case insisting that the suspect must be arrested and prosecuted.
“The man is afraid of his life because they say he lives in the same Community with the killer of my brother.
“Police wanted him to withdraw the case so that we can bury our brother,” Mr. Oghenerobo stated.
It would be recalled that in an interview with Mr. Clarke Oghenerobo at the wake of the murder, he appealed to the police, Edo State Government and relevant authorities to ensure justice was served in the killing of his brother.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer for Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said “murder is a crime against the state” and assured that it would be treated as such.
He however advised the complainant to remain steadfast in pursuit of justice.
Alltimepost.com had earlier reported that the investigators took into custody one Obas Idehen over the gruesome murder of the bricklayer.
Obas Idehen was said to have collected money for six bags of cement from the complainant but only supplied four bags to his building site, a development that indirectly led to the killing of the bricklayer.
The late Onorode Uteh and his employer, Mr. Uyiosa Uhunmwango first went to the cement shop to enquire why the six bags earlier paid for were not supplied completely, but when they got there the store was already closed for the day.
As a result, they decided to go to the cement seller’s residence, popularly known as ‘White house,’ located at Okhoromi Community, Ward 2 Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State for the same purpose and to make arrangements for the remaining two bags to be picked up the following morning by the bricklayer.
According to Uhumwangho, a graduate of Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, who witnessed the alleged murder by one Collins, now on the run, trouble started immediately they entered the compound.
Collins was said to have accused him of opening the gate without knocking and a mere argument ensued between them. Following the argument, Collins reportedly locked the gate with padlock, preventing them from going out and subsequently raced back to the house where he allegedly pulled out a double barrel gun.
“He pointed the gun at me, I heard a shot. The bricklayer that was standing beside me shouted and held his chest as he went down slowly. I saw blood gushing out, Collins brought out another cartridge from his pocket, reloaded the gun and continued threatening to kill me as he worked me out of the compound at gunpoint,” Uhunmwangho narrated.
It was also gathered that the alleged killer, Collins is a relative of the cement business owner, said to be based in Canada.
The cement depot was deserted when our reporter visited on Wednesday April 25, 2018.
Uncle of the deceased, Mr. Clarke Oghenerobo had then called on the police, Edo State government and relevant security agencies to ensure justice was served in the brutal murder.
