Apo Six - Police Witness Refutes Earlier Statement

The third police principal witness, DSP Philibus Yakubu, in the long running case of murder of six Apo traders on June 8, 2005, yesterday refuted earlier report (exhibit 14D) he made at Force headquarters and police C I D Department, Garki, Abuja, that at the scene of the murder, a patrol van blocked the six traders who were in a BMW (406) from escaping from manned patrol check point, and that policemen in the patrol van opened fire on the 406.

The police witness, speaking before Justice Ishaq Bello, at the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja also denied report he made at the Force headquarters (exhibit D6 and D7) that it was not true that police patrol vehicle blocked the 406 and fired shots into the vehicle. That he only heard one shot fired and ran away and did not know the target of the gun shot.

The witness, who was under cross examination, re-stated a statement he made when he was earlier cross examined by Ricky Tafa, counsel to the first accused, Danjuma Ibrahim, that he watched the first accused shooting into the vehicle of the slain Apo traders. Philibus Yakubu, also added that contrary statements he made before Okiro Panel of Inquiry were lies.

He added that they did not discover anything during a search on the vehicle of the Apo traders, unlike previous report of finding a locally made pistol, two expended cartridges, two knives, and one cutlass.

Following the cross examination, the defence counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, said that 7th and 8th principal witnesses were yet to be cross examined and never testified before Okiro panel. The presiding judge, Ishaq Bello adjourned proceeding to June 16, 2010 for continuation of cross examination.

Leadership Newspaper 6-6-10

Hm, Nigeria!

This is a case that will stand as a litmus test to all other police oppression cases,I wish more people get to know about this.
I am keenly interested in this case.