The arraignment of six dismissed police officers who allegedly murdered one Gabriel Rabo (an armed robbery suspect) yesterday failed to hold due to the absence of three of the accused persons who were reportedly sick and hospitalized.
According to the charge against the accused persons; Sale Ezekiel, Hassan Jaba, Saliwu Aminu, Baba Okenyi, Uchenna Ibe and Ikilu Danjuma, the dismissed officers conspired and murdered Rabo on August 2, 2010 by hitting him with the butt of AK47 on his head; during which the suspect sustained serious injuries that resulted in his death.
The officers were attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja division.
During the proceeding yesterday, counsel to some of the accused persons, A. T. Yusuf told the court presided over by Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf that the prosecuting counsel was attending to another criminal matter in a ‘brother-court’ and had asked for a stand-down.
Meanwhile, another defense counsel, Daniel Osiagwu asked the court to take the plea of the available accused persons; but the judge, Justice Yusuf explained that since the charge was on murder that it would be wise to give all the parties sufficient time to report back to court; saying that ‘anyone hurrying the matter is doing so at his peril.’ He adjourned the matter for arraignment of the accused persons till March 27.