Aluu four: Lack of legal representation stalls trial

[Mirror]

Lack of legal representation by three of the 11 suspected killers of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) at Umuokiri Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday stalled the trial of the case for the second time.

The suspects were supposed to be arraigned yesterday, but the lack of legal representation stalled their trial.

Justice L.L. Nyordee of the State High Court said the accused persons would be allowed to take their plea when all of them get legal representation, adding that the matter would be directed to the Legal Aid Council for assistance.

Justice Nyordee said: "Owing to the critical nature of the matter and the fact that the charge against the accused persons is capital in nature, and in view of the fact that some of the accused persons have no legal representation in court today (yesterday), especially the 3rd, 4th and 10th accused persons, it is obvious that they do not have money to hire a lawyer to represent them.

"Plea for all the accused persons will be delayed pending when all of them get legal representation.

"The attention of Legal Aid Council will be drawn to this development so that they can assist by providing legal representation for the three accused persons."

When the matter came up early March, Justice T.S. Orji, whom the case was initially assigned, rejected the file because of her relationship with some parties in the suit.

According to he,r while she hails from Okrika, home town of two of the victims (Tekena Elkanah and Lloyd Mike Toku), she is married to Aluu, the scene of the crime and traditional domain of the Alhaji Hassan Welewa, an accused in the case.

Apart from the trio, all other accused persons were represented. The Aluu monarch, Welewa, was represented by two lawyers. This is the third time he is changing his lawyer since the case began last year.

The state Solicitor-General, Mr. Rufus N. Godwins, led other lawyers, including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ibikiri Otorubio, to prosecute the matter.

National Mirror