An Abia State High court sitting in Aba, has remanded a dismissed policeman, Henry Njoku, at the Aba Correctional Centre, over the alleged murder of a businessman, Emmanuel Okocha.
Njoku, attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in Aba, was dismissed for killing Okocha for allegedly refusing to bribe him at a checkpoint, along Aba – Owerri road, Aba.
The presiding judge of the court, Justice Thomas Adiele, ordered the remand of the ex-policeman following the absence of his lawyer in court.
When the case with suit No. A/23c/2024, between the State vs Ex-Cpl Henry Njoku, was mentioned, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna announced his presence with the team of lawyers from the state Ministry of Justice, while Barr. Ojiakor announced an appearance for the family of the deceased businessman, late Emmanuel Okocha.
The dismissed policeman who was in court, told the presiding judge that his lawyer was on the way to the court.
The Attorney General and Commissioner appealed to the Judge to step down the case to enable the lawyer of the defendant to get to the court.
The Judge granted the request.
However, after about two hours when the matter was called up again, the lawyer to the defendant was yet to get to the court.
When the Judge sought to know why the lawyer was yet to come to court, the mother of dismissed policeman told the court that the lawyer went to another court for another matter.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice further appealed to the Judge for the defendant to be remanded at the Aba Correctional Centre for convenience and sought for another date to enable the defendant and his family to secure the service of a lawyer at the next adjourned date.
Before adjourning the matter to July 3, 2024, the Judge reminded the defendant and his family of the options available to them to secure the services of a lawyer ahead of the next adjourned date when he will be expected to take his plea.
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