Court remands 2 over alleged killing of minor in Benin

A Benin High Court on Wednesday, remanded two persons, Ile Itua and Kingsley Micheal, in a correctional centre over alleged killing of a 21-month old child.

Itua, 25, and Michael, 36, whose addresses were not given, are being charged with murder.

The Prosecutor, Polycap Odion, said that the defendants committed the offence on March 12, in Benin City.

Odion said that Itua and Michael unlawfully killed the child with a vehicle and attempted to kill two other persons.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 239 (a)(b), 243(a) and 248 of the Criminal Law of Edo, 2022.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional centre, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Paul Badaki, prayed the court to grant his clients bail, arguing that the case was purely an accident, and not murder.

Badaki further urged the court to listen to the report of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) to determine the true nature of the matter

In her report, the IPO, ASP Regina Obayuwana, said that the defendants’ vehicle was coming from Agbor Park to Ring Road when a police Public Safety Response Team intercepted them.

She said that the defendants dragged the vehicle steering with the police, saying,” the vehicle veered off the road in the process and killed the little girl”

The presiding Judge, Justice Williams Aziegbemhin, directed the defence counsel to tender a formal bail application before the court.

He said that the facts in the bail application would enable the court to determine whether the case was purely an accident or murder.

The judge remanded the defendants in Oko Correctional Centre, and adjourned the case until April 1, 2025.