A prosecution witness, Constable Haruna Saleh, on Wednesday told an Abuja High Court that the former DPO of Garki Police Station, Othman Abdulsalam, “interfered” with investigations into the Apo six killings.
The policemen standing trial for the killings are DCP Danjuma Ibrahim, ASP Othman Abdulsalami (at large), Cpl. Nicholas Zacharia, Cpl. Emmanuel Baba, Cpl. Sadiq Salami and Cpl. Emmanuel Acheneje.
The policemen were alleged to have killed Ifeanyi Ozo, Chinedu Menriu, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike and Tina Arebun in 2005.
Saleh, a former Investigating Police Officer into the killings, said that it was Abdulsalam, who gave orders on what should be done on that day.
The witness said that on June, 8, 2005, he resumed duty at the Garki Police Station at 5.55 a.m. where he saw five bodies comprising that of four young men and a female.
He told the court that he saw Abdulsalam standing beside the bodies, adding that he also directed him to assist another Cpl. Dennis Asama to get some weapons to plant by the bodies.
He said they were also directed by Abdulsalam to arrange two locally made pistols, two cartridges, two knives and one cutlass by the bodies.
The witness also testified that it was Abdulsalam, who called a photographer, Mr Chulwudi Chukwu, to take the photographs of the five bodies with the weapons which were planted by their side.
He said that he did not know whose weapons were planted by the bodies, adding, “I know that the weapons were brought from the armoury”.
During cross-examination by counsel to the first accused (Danjuma) Mr Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, the witness said that due to the “constant interference” of Abdulsalam, he was not given time to conclude his investigations.
“It was Abdulsalam who directed that the weapons should be brought out of the armoury. It was Abdulsalam who also directed that we should place the weapons by the bodies.
“It was Abdulsalam who also asked me to deposit the five bodies in the Asokoro General Hospital’s mortuary,”' he said.
Saleh also testified that none of the accused persons (Danjuma, Zacharia, Baba, Salami, Acheneje were present at the Garki Police Station on the day that he saw the bodies.
The judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, has adjourned the suit to Feb. 9, for continuation of the hearing.