Benue traditional ruler, brother arraigned over alleged murder

A 40-year-old traditional ruler of Ansha-Mbakule village, Jacob Pinen, appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to face charges on the killing of a 75-year-old man, Igbayima Iorshagher. The traditional ruler is standing trial alongside his brother, Emmanuel Pinen, on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. According to the First Information Report […]

A 40-year-old traditional ruler of Ansha-Mbakule village, Jacob Pinen, appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to face charges on the killing of a 75-year-old man, Igbayima Iorshagher.

The traditional ruler is standing trial alongside his brother, Emmanuel Pinen, on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case was transferred from the Konshisha Divisional Police Headquarters in Tse-Agberagba to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi on August 7 for investigation. 

The FIR states that one Orhungur lorshagher reported to the Tse-Agberagba Police Station on August 3 that his brother had been murdered.

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“On August 1, the defendants and one Aondowase lorkyaa, all from Ansha-Mbakule village, conspired with others, lured the deceased, who was the complainant’s elder brother, to a herbal doctor for treatment and then attacked him at Bar Bridge,” the report states. 

According to the FIR, “At the bridge linking the Ansha community to Korinya city, the attackers inflicted multiple injuries on his brother, which led to his death.”

The prosecutor, Inspector Friday Kanshio, told the court that the defendants were arrested, while Iorkyaa and others are still at large.

 Kanshio said the alleged offences contravened Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

 He also informed the court that the investigation was ongoing and requested a short adjournment.

The Chief Magistrate, Kevin Mbanongun, did not take the pleas of the defendants because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. However, he granted them bail in the amount of N1 million on self-recognizance.

The matter was adjourned until October 2 for further mention. (NAN)