Crime
Benson Obodeh Killings: Police Commissioner, pathologist testify in court
By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
Investigating Police Commissioner and a medical doctor have testified before the Criminal Court 4, High Court in Benin City, in the trial of five dismissed policemen over alleged murder of Benson Obodeh, a Benin-based car dealer.
The two prosecuting witnesses are Dr. Godwin Abeng Boke and a Specialist Forensic Pathologist, a Commissioner of Police in Charge of Pathology for the police nationwide.
The accused, Adeleke Adedeji, Musa Oniyo, Abena John, Henry Shobowale and Joseph Omotosho are being tried for a seven-count charge of murder and stealing.
National Daily recalls that the late Obodeh was murdered over an alleged car theft in Benin City in May, 2015 by the dismissed police corporals attached to Special Anti Robbery squad, (SARS), Lagos State Command.
Dr. Boke, a pathologist with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, told the court presided over by Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele that he was appointed to lead a team to carry out a postmortem on late Benson Obode after he was identified by his elder brother, Mr. Solomon Obode.
He said the autopsy was carried out on 30th September 2015, four months and few days after Benson Obode was killed under a controversial circumstance.
According to Dr. Godwin Abeng Boke’s testimony, the deceased suffered multiple blood injuries inflicted by objects.
The pathologist also told the court that in his post mortem, he discovered that Obode’s heart was unusually large for his age which he explained was indicative of a long standing heart problem.
Similarly, a Commissioner of Police in Charge of Pathology, Dr. Wilson Akiu who observed the postmortem corroborated the testimony of Boke.
During cross examination, the defense counsel, Daniel Abdullahi, said he agreed to the report of the pathologists which indicated that his death was as a result of multiple injuries that triggered the heart to fail because the heart itself was already in precarious situation.
Standing before Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele, the five suspects are alleged o have, in May 2015, stormed Benin City from Lagos and arrested the deceased on allegation of purchasing stolen vehicles but later died in their custody
The case has been adjourned till 5th April for the continuation of the hearing.
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