4 docked over alleged murder of friend

Four men were on Wednesday re-arraigned in  a Plateau  High Court in Jos over the death of  their  friend, Joseph Gonsum. The accused-Terry Kefas, Samson James,  Emmanuel Jah and Patrick Nyam, all of Gada Biyu Village, were  accused of stabbing Gonsum, a fresh  graduate,  to death during a fight. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) […]

Four men were on Wednesday re-arraigned in  a Plateau  High Court in Jos over the death of  their  friend, Joseph Gonsum.

The accused-Terry Kefas, Samson James,  Emmanuel Jah and Patrick Nyam, all of Gada Biyu Village, were  accused of stabbing Gonsum, a fresh  graduate,  to death during a fight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused  were first arraigned on Sept. 22, 2017. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, an offence punishable with death upon conviction.

The Prosecutor, Mr N.S Miner,  had told the court that the accused  committed the crime on Dec. 25, 2016. He told the court  that the accused armed themselves with a knife and stabbed Gonsum in the stomach, leading  to his death. The prosecutor also claimed  that the accused  in a confessional statement to the police  admitted to have committed the crime.

The accused,  however, pleaded not guilty when their plea was taken.

The judge, Justice I.A Ashoms, admitted each accused person  to bail in the sum of N500, 000  with  two sureties  in like sum. He adjourned the matter till April 27 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)