Court
Court addresses River state vigilante commander over murder. Court addresses River state vigilante commander over murder. Niece Ajuru, the commander of a vigilante group in the Rundele community, Emuoha local government area of Rivers State, has been remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Police Command arraigned him on a three-count allegation of illegal possession of a firearm, arson, and murder on Monday.
When the case was mentioned in Court, the suspect could not take his plea, as the presiding Chief Magistrate, Amadi Nna declined to hear the matter for lack of jurisdiction.
Chief Magistrate Nna sighted a session of the Firearm Act and Criminal Code of the state.
He then ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution for guidance, or that the accused apply for bail at the State High Court.
He did, however, order the accused to be held in the Port Harcourt Correctional Center.
Recall that Ajuru, the Commander of the Onelgha Security Peace Advisory Committee nicknamed OSPAC in Rundele, Emuoha LGA, was apprehended in Aluu, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, in possession of one AK-47 rifle, 23 rounds of live ammunition, a police cap, a police Identity card, and charms.
Emeka Nwonyi, the State Commissioner of Police, brought Ajuru before newsmen on June 26, 2023, alleging the latter admitted to engaging the Army in Ndele, Emuoha LGA, where two soldiers were slain.
Nwonyi further stated that Ajuru has expressed willingness to provide all essential information to assist the Police in their investigations.