I Don't Want to Die in Prison - Policeman Begs After Killing Innocent Man

A policeman who was dismissed, arrested and detained along with three other policemen for allegedly torturing and killing a car dealer, Benson Obode in Benin, Edo state, Adeleke Adedeji, has cried out that he does not want to die in prison over a curable disease and for an offence he did not commit, PMnews reports.

His Counsel, Paul Osarenkhoe, has filed a suit begging for his release at the Federal High Court in Benin. It was gathered that the former police officer has been managing a life-threatening ailment and has been advised to abstain from strenuous activities.

Trouble started when Adedeji and three other policemen, Oniyo Musa (35), Abena John (33) and Henry Shobowale (32), were said to have killed and murdered Benson Obode. It was revealed that the trio arrested the car dealer. He was later found dead after his corpse was deposited by unknown persons at the Benin Central Hospital. Also, it was discovered that the police officers who before their dismissal were members of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Lagos State, used the dead man's ATM to steal the sum of N330,000 after killing him.

Following petitions by the family of the deceased and civil society organisations, the policemen were arrested, charged to court and were ordered to be remanded in prison custody by an Oredo Magistrate, awaiting trial.

‎However, Adeleke now wants to use the health excuse to evade justice as he is seeking the court to declare his continuous detention without trial since August 2015, for an alleged offence of conspiracy and murder unreasonable, illegal and unconstitutional.

He is also seeking a declaration ordering his release unconditionally pending a formal arraignment.

But in a counter affidavit by Legal Officer of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Ledee N-ueh, the Police urged the court to dismiss the suit with cost as it was incompetent, frivolous, misconceived and an abuse of court processes.

N-ueh said the dismissed police officers came to Benin City without an authorization to arrest the deceased.

Meanwhile, ruling on the bail application has been adjourned to March 21, 2016 by Justice O.O Tokode