The Bayelsa State High Court ruling that quashed the 16-count charge brought against two persons accused of allegedly killing a husband, his wife and two others in a church at Azikoro community in August 2020, is stirring controversy in the state.
Presiding judge, Justice I. Eradiri, while discharging and acquitting Dankaba Sinime and Dawereghe Raymond of the 16-count charge of murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and malicious intent, declared that the confessions of the accused were allegedly obtained under duress and against the Evidence Act.
The ruling, which was delivered on Thursday, visibly shocked the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Permanent Secetary of the state Ministry of Justice, Iyobosa and the operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command.
When one of the defence counsel expressed appreciation to the presiding judge over the ruling of the court, Justice Eradiri waved it off, admitting that “four persons died”.
Also, when the presiding judge was asked what to do with the AK-49 rifle purportedly recovered from the home of the accused, he directed that the weapon should be handed to the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, for safe-keeping.
However, the families of the four murdered members of the Lion of Judah Church, located at Azikoro Town in Yenagoa, openly wept over the ruling, placing curses on those they accused of denying their deceased members justice.
A member of the church, identified as Stephen, told our correspondent that “our murdered brothers and sisters were denied justice today by the court.
“The way the justice system in Bayelsa recycles criminals is contributing to crime in the state. Witnesses identified the accused, and the police and the state justice ministry found them culpable.
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“But the judge found them innocent of all charges. It is pathetic.”
It would be recalled that in August 2020, suspected armed cultists stormed the Lion of Judah Church, Azikoro Village in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and shot dead four church members, namely, Alfred Marcus, Imomotimi, Gabriel Ejimofor, and Uchechukwu Ejimofor.
The attackers also set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church property.
After the attack, operatives of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ later traced the hideout of the suspected cultists, dislodged them, and burnt their camp.
An AK-49 rifle was recovered from the accused persons, who, in their confessional statements, admitted being members of the notorious cult groups, the Bobos.
