2 farmers remanded over alleged murder, robbery

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered that two farmers, Godwin Terfa and Samson Adefu, be remanded at the Correction Center, Makurdi, for allegedly robbing and killing one Nensha Abiem. The defendants, residents of Ugba in Logo Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery, culpable homicide, and acts of terrorism. […]

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered that two farmers, Godwin Terfa and Samson Adefu, be remanded at the Correction Center, Makurdi, for allegedly robbing and killing one Nensha Abiem.
The defendants, residents of Ugba in Logo Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery, culpable homicide, and acts of terrorism.
However, when the case came up for mention, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Regina Alashi, did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction.
Alashi subsequently adjourned the matter until April 14, for further mention. (NAN)
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. James Kuegh, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ugba, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, via a letter dated February 26.
Kuegh said the letter stated that on February 18, the President of Ugondo youths in Ugba, one Mr. Simon Msuega, reported at the Ugba Police Station that the defendants—members of a criminal gang terrorizing the Ugba and Anyiin axis—had conspired and attacked the deceased.
According to the prosecutor, Msuega alleged that the defendants used an iron rod to kill Abiem and made away with his Honda C50 motorcycle, valued at N1,035,000.
He further alleged that the suspects stole N1,700 in cash and a Tecno mobile phone valued at N23,000 belonging to the deceased.
The prosecutor added that the suspects were arrested during a police investigation and had confessed to the crime.
The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 97, 299, and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, and Sections 3(2) and 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law of Benue, 2017. (NAN)