The murder trial of three men accused of killing Elozino Ogege, a 300-level Mass Communication student at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, resumed at the High Court of Justice, Asaba.
The three defendants, Macurlay Desmond Oghenemaro, Nwosisi Benedict Uche, and Enaike Onoriode, were charged with conspiring to murder Elozino on November 15, 2018.
A fourth defendant, Ojokojo Robinson Obajero, a native doctor, died during the pendency of the case.
The prosecution had previously closed its case after the court conducted a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of confessional statements made by the first and third defendants. The court ruled in favour of the prosecution, allowing the confessions as evidence.
During the hearing, the first defendant, represented by counsel S.C. Okehielem, denied committing the crime. He testified that he was arrested at his residence in Oghara by the police, who accused him of being a fraudster and allegedly tortured him in custody.
Under cross-examination, however, the defendant denied making a prior statement, claiming his arrest occurred at a different location, Abraka.
A heated legal argument ensued when the prosecution sought to tender a written deposition previously sworn by the defendant in 2022, which had been withdrawn and struck out by the court.
The defence objected, but the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, countered by citing legal precedents to support the admissibility of the statement.
After deliberation, the trial judge ruled in favour of the prosecution, admitting the sworn statement into evidence.
The defence then requested an adjournment to bring forward additional witnesses. The case was adjourned to June 4, 2025, for further proceedings.
