Court remands welder in custody for robbery, murder charges

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, remanded a 22-year-old welder, Isaiah Shedrack, in custody at the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, Makurdi.

Shedrack, who resides at Ogodu in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi, is standing trial for alleged robbery and murder of one Ochoyoda Umoru, a commercial motorcycle rider.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction, ordered his remand in custody and adjourned the matter until Jan. 26, 2024, for further mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, had informed the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarter, Obagaji in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue to the State CID, Makurdi, on Nov. 15.

Ato said that on Nov 13, one Usman Umoru, the uncle of the deceased, reported at the Obagaji Police Station that his 17-year-old nephew was missing.

The complainant reported that Ochoyoda went out as usual on Nov. 8, with his Bajaj motorcycle but did not return.

He stated further that when his nephew failed to return home at his usual time, and could not be reached on phone, a search party consisting of colleagues was mobilised to search for him.

According to the prosecutor, the corpse of Ochoyoda was later found with bullet wounds on his chest and back at Okwutanobe/Okpajabi Road in Agatu Local Government Area. 

Ato said that the defendant was arrested during police investigation for committing the crime and the Bajaj motorcycle belonging to the deceased was recovered from him.

He said that the offences contravened sections 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue, 2004.