Police inspector remanded over ritualist who escaped from custody

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday remanded a police Inspector, Johnbosco Okoroeze, in prison for allegedly aiding the escape of a ritual suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Dike, from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in the State capital.

Inspector Okoroeze who was the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) was arraigned yesterday by the State Police Command on a twocount charge bordering on aiding the escape of the suspect and assisting to pervert justice against a murder suspect.

The police officer who has been discharged from the Force, broke down in tears when he was brought to court in handcuffs.

When the case was mentioned, the charges against him were not read and plea was not taken because the count one was a capital offence.

The Chief Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja, said the inspector was accused of perverting justice, stressing that any person guilty of such would be charged to serve seven years in prison.

The Chief Magistrate declined jurisdiction to listen and determine the first count, but said that he had the legal standing to entertain and determine the second charge.

It would be recalled that the suspect at large had defiled, killed and mutilated vital parts of eight-year-old girl, Chikamso Mezuwuba.

Dike was arrested on Saturday by local vigilante team in Eliozu area of Port Harcourt on his way to dispose of the remains of the victim .

The suspect, after being paraded Saturday, at the SCIID and statements obtained, disappeared from the police custody.

The IPO Okoroeze who was handling the matter was arrested for allegedly aiding the escape of Dike