Court Adjourns Criminal Case Involving Warri Chief, Seven Others

A Benin High Court has adjourned the reported criminal case involving the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Atseleghe and seven others to Wednesday, November 11th, 2020.

BIGPEN understands Atselegbe who was arrested by Edo State Police Command in June, this year and subsequently arraigned, is facing alleged criminal case bothering among others on conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and malicious damage.

The case was earlier suspended due to the recent #EndSARS protests around the country which resulted in jailbreak in the state.

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At the resume hearing of the case on Wednesday, November 4th, 2020, at the High Court 4 in Benin, the defendants’ lead counsel, Madagbelo (SAN) came up with a preliminary objection to the charges the applicant brought against the defendants.

Atseleghe (who claimed to be sick) out of the eight defendants was the only one present in court. The others were said to still be in protective custody and were not brought to court.

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Matthew Edaghese (Esq) led the applicants’ legal team in the case that was reassigned from Criminal Court 1 to Court 4.

The court subsequently adjourned to Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 for continuation of the case.

Recalls Atselegbe was arrested and subsequently charged to court allegedly for kidnapping  and murder at the heel of the lingering land disputes between the Itsekiri and Bini people in Ologbo Community in Edo State wherein several persons have been allegedly killed from both sides.