The Uniport graduate death case has taken a new turn after two police officers were ordered to remain in custody over the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Anthony Obodo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Corporal Alfred Louis and Police Constable Michael Ejekwu were brought before a Port Harcourt Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and subsequently remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
The officers are among four policemen dismissed in connection with Obodo’s death, which occurred on August 27 at Ada George Junction in Port Harcourt.
Court orders remand of two officers
Chief Magistrate Helen Hardy declined to have the charge read during Thursday’s proceedings, meaning the two officers did not enter a plea.
The court instead ordered that Louis and Ejekwu be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
Magistrate Hardy also directed that the case file be forwarded to the Chief Registrar for reassignment.
The matter was adjourned until September 22, when the two accused officers are expected to enter their pleas and further proceedings may begin.
Two other policemen were also dismissed over the incident.
They are Assistant Superintendent of Police Fabian Kpeanabari and Inspector Solomon Nworgu. While Kpeanabari was not brought before the court, Nworgu is reportedly still at large.
Why one dismissed officer was not in court
The development drew questions from the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Chinedu Maduba.
Maduba said he was concerned that only two of the officers who had been in police custody were presented before the court.
He subsequently contacted the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to seek clarification.
According to the NBA chairman, the Commissioner explained that Kpeanabari’s dismissal, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police, requires ratification by the Police Service Commission before he can be taken to court.
Maduba said the police authorities had assured him that the process would be accelerated so the officer could also face court proceedings.
How the Uniport graduate died
Obodo was reportedly shot at about 5pm on August 27 after police officers allegedly flagged down the vehicle he was driving at Ada George Junction.
An eyewitness cited in reports said one of the officers fired at the vehicle, hitting Obodo.
The vehicle reportedly lost control after the shooting and went on to hit three people.
Obodo’s death subsequently sparked public outrage, protests and calls for accountability from his family and members of the public.
His father, Princewill Obodo, has alleged that his son was deliberately targeted and has demanded justice.
Family raises questions over police deployment
Princewill Obodo also alleged that the officers involved had initially been deployed to provide security during the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association conference.
According to him, the policemen were stationed at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia before being redeployed to the area where his son was killed.
The latest court action marks another stage in the Uniport graduate death case as authorities move to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and the responsibility of those accused in connection with the incident.
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