N15m property razed

BY GABRIEL       ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—FOUR persons have been arraigned before an Irrua Magistrate Court in Edo State on a  six-count charge of conspiracy and setting on fire, a house and other property worth over N15 million, belonging to Mr. Peter Okoh, at Ibore–Irrua, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

The offence was alleged to have been committed a day after the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ward congress in the state.
Those arraigned were Sunday Ikhelua, 31, Ojie Johnson, 34, Daniel Iwelomen, 28 and Stephen Aimufia, 65.

The accused persons and others at large, according to the charge, were alleged to have, on April 9, 2014, at 3 a.m., in Ibore- Irrua, conspired among themselves to commit felony, to wit: Arson, and thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State   now applicable in Edo State.

They were also alleged to have unlawfully and willfully damaged property, which include chairs, clothing, DSTV decoder, certificate of occupancy, vehicle particulars, among others, belonging to the said Peter Okoh,  valued at N1.6 million by setting them on fire, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of the criminal Code Cap 48Vol 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.

When the matter came up for hearing, it was adjourned by the court to July 15, 2014 as one of the accused was not in court, because he was reported to be bereaved.