Police dismiss, arraign sergeant who allowed PortHacourt ritual killer, Ifeanyi Dike to escape

Sergeant Okoroeze and the ritual killer Ifeanyi Dike with his victim

Sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze who allowed the escape of a ritual killer, Ifeanyi Dike, from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Port Harcourt has been dismissed by the Rivers State Police Command.

Okoroeze, who was also arraigned by the police before a chief magistrate’s court on two counts bordering on obstruction of justice and conspiracy, was remanded in custody for the alleged offences.

Though the charges were not read to the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja, cautioned him as he cried uncontrollably inside the court before his case was mentioned.

It was reported that the prime suspect, Dike, defiled, killed and removed the organs of one Miss Victory Nmezuwuba, before he was arrested and taken to the SCIID.

Okoroeze, who was the Investigating Police Officer, had removed the suspect’s handcuffs while he took his statements.

The victim’s father, Dr Ernest Nmezuwuba, who was also in the charge room at the time, had said he used candlelight while making his statements, adding that there was no power supply in the area.

The suspect was reported to have fled the SCIID under the cover of darkness and his whereabouts had remained unknown.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, had ordered the dismissal and arraignment of Okoroeze for criminal conspiracy.

The accused, who was brought to the magistrate’s court in handcuffs, cried profusely on the premises.

The chief magistrate observed that while the first charge could earn Okoroeze a life sentence if found guilty, the second charge could earn the dismissed police sergeant a seven-year jail term if found guilty.

Andrew-Jaja, who immediately declined jurisdiction of the court to handle the matter, directed the court registrar to transfer the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The chief magistrate then remanded the suspect in prison, just as he adjourned the matter till September 14, 2017 for adoption of written addresses.

Meanwhile Police have intensified manhunt for the fleeing ritual killer Ifeanyi Dike, a 200L student of University of Port Harcourt

READ: Update On How Ritualist, Ifeanyi Dike Escaped From Police Custody In Port Hacourt