The trial of 11 defendants charged with the murder of Arise News anchor Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu resumed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how investigators tracked down and arrested the suspects linked to the killing.
Testifying before Justice Mohammed Idris, the third prosecution witness, Maxwell Eje, an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Scorpion Squad of the CID, FCT Command, told the court that investigations led operatives to the first defendant, Shamsu Hassan, who allegedly fled to Zaria following the robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe, Abuja, last year.
Eje said Hassan was arrested on September 30 and allegedly confessed to participating in the robbery, providing information that helped police apprehend other suspects.
According to the witness, Hassan identified Sani Surajo as one of the gang members, leading operatives to a hospital in Gosa along Airport Road, where Surajo was reportedly receiving treatment.
“Within a short time, our commander called us to say that they had arrested Shamsu, and he confessed to them that one of the suspects was at Gosa receiving treatment, as he was wounded in an accident,” Eje told the court.
The police witness said Surajo was initially startled when operatives arrived but later cooperated with investigators and allegedly gave information that aided the pursuit of other suspects.
However, proceedings were cut short before cross-examination after defence counsel Dennis Abu, representing the seventh to eleventh defendants and holding brief for the first and third defendants, sought the court’s permission to attend a medical appointment.
Justice Idris subsequently adjourned the case until tomorrow for continuation of the witness’s evidence-in-chief and cross-examination, while the prosecution signalled readiness to call two additional witnesses.
The defendants are facing charges filed by the FCT Commissioner of Police bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and murder following the robbery incident in which Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were killed.
The trial, which began three months ago after initial delays, has already featured testimonies from two former residents of the estate, who recounted how masked gunmen carried out the deadly attack but said they could not identify any of the defendants in court.
The case continues amid heightened public interest as prosecutors seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing of the journalist.
