TELL Magazine

…Alleges plot to compromise investigation

The family of 17-year-old Jessica Aniche who was allegedly raped and killed for ritual purposes in Edo State, have demanded the transfer of investigation in the case from the homicide department of the Nigerian Police to another department on allegation of plot to compromise the investigation.

In a strong petition to the Commissioner of Police, Paula Aniche and Linda Nwosu, both family members of the deceased, had through their lawyer, Douglas Ogbankwa, alleged that suspects in the investigations have been allowed to walk free despite compelling evidences against them.

In the letter dated June 15, 2022, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, the family alleged that “Miss Jessica Anichie, a 17-year-old girl, was abducted against her will and murdered by one Nusa Abu, Rasheed, Deborah, Joy, around their house at the MTN MAST Road 5, Nosa Edugie Street, Benin City, ostensibly for ritual purpose.

“To accentuate this fact, Nusa Abu is suspected to be an internet fraudster, and he and the others mentioned above, took the corpse of the deceased to the mortuary without contacting her family.

“That Nusa Abu and others have been giving incredible stories of how she died that do not add up”.

According to Ogbankwa, his clients “are not comfortable with the investigation of the Homicide Section and the IPO who has refused to arrest some of the culprits, and follow some leads that will crack the murder of the innocent and promising girl.

“We wish to humbly urge you Sir to transfer this matter to another unit, in order to do justice in this matter and bring the culprits to book.”

Sources close to the Homicide department, however, contended that it had another to hide in the matter. A detective in the unit who did not want to be mentioned, hinted Tell that the seeming delay was being caused by an autopsy report needed to confirm the actual cause of death.

According to him, “The main suspect, Nusa, was in detention for a month and we had to charge him to court. So, as we speak, he is in Oko Prison. There is nothing to hide there. It is when the autopsy is conducted that the result will guide the investigation, and we cannot just arrest people without evidence”.

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