An Oredo Magistrates’court in Benin on Thursday ordered the remand in prison custody of two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osakpamwan Eriyo and Sunday Osagbona, for alleged attempted murder.
Ceoafrica gathered that Chief Magistrate Mrs M. C. Ojobo, who said she lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, directed that both accused persons be remanded in Oko Medium Security prison which has proper health facilities and also directed that the case file be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
The accused people, whose pleas were not taken, were charged with the attempted murder of Chief Osaro Idah, Secretary of the state’s APC, who sent a petition to the police that they threatened his life.
Eriyo is the State Youth Leader of the APC and Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) while Sunday is the Ward 3 Chairman of the APC in Oredo Local Government.
Eriyo protested being handcuffed in the court room querying that “Am I a criminal? Did I kill anybody? Why are they charging me for attempted murder? “I didn’t do anything. It is the governor that is oppressing me.”
Their Counsel, Usunobun Evbayiro, urged the court to grant them custody in the police clinic because of their ill-health as he affirmed that his clients were hypertensive, asthmatic and diabetic and need constant medical attention.
“The first accused person collapsed in police station. It was the police doctors that revived him. I urge you to use your discretion to order him to be kept in police hospital so that police doctors can attend to him. It is for him not to die in custody.”
The case was adjourned till Jan. 13 for mention.
It was also gathered that the APC chieftains’ supporters had earlier staged protests at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command to demand their release, which police ignored by whisking the accused under heavy surveillance to the court.
Similarly officials of RTEAN and suspected thugs attempted to storm the court room but they were barred by the police.
