A 40-year-old village head of Ansha-Mbákule, Jacob Pinen, on Thursday appeared before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi over the alleged killing of a 75-year-old man, Igbayima Iorshagher.
Jacob is facing the charge alongside his brother Emmanuel Pinen, with prosecutors accusing the pair of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the matter was initially handled at the Konshisha Divisional Police Headquarters in Tse-Agberagba before being forwarded on August 7 to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for deeper inquiry.
The complaint was filed by Orhungur Iorshagher, who told police on August 3 that his elder brother had been murdered.
The FIR adds: “On August 1, the defendants and one Aondowase Iorkyaa, all from Ansha-Mbákule village, conspired with others, lured the deceased, who was the complainant’s elder brother, to a herbal doctor for treatment and then attacked him at Bar Bridge.”
It further states: “At the bridge linking the Ansha community to Korinya city, the attackers inflicted multiple injuries on his brother, which led to his death.”
Prosecutor Inspector Friday Kanshio informed the court that the accused were apprehended, while Iorkyaa and other suspects remain at large.
He said the alleged crimes violate Sections 97 and 222 of the Benue Penal Code Laws, 2004, and requested time to conclude investigations.
Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun declined to take the defendants’ pleas, citing lack of jurisdiction, but granted each bail of N1 million on self-recognizance.
The case was adjourned to October 2 for further mention. (NAN)