ONE KILLED AS #EndSARS PROTEST TURNS BLOODY IN BENIN CITY

At least a young man in his late thirties was allegedly shot dead by a yet-to-be identified security agent.

Sources say the young man was allegedly shot during the protest march at Ring Road, Benin City.

The deceased was subsequently taken to the State Government House by other protesters who vowed to make sure justice was done in the matter.

Meanwhile, protesters have besieged the Ring Road in continuation of their demand for Government to scrap the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS.

EDHA FORGIVES OKIYE HIS SINS

Former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye, who was recently impeached and suspended by the House, has been absolved of his sins.

The development followed a motion by the House Leader, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo representing Ikpoba-Okha constituency, during an emergency sitting of the House to commute Okiye’s impeachment to resignation, even as his suspension was also lifted to allow him to be part of Plenary.

Hon. Okhuarobo said it motion was sequel to consultation with members as well as the former Speaker’s constituents.

The motion was seconded by the member representing Esan North East I constituency, Hon. Emma Okoduwa.

On his part, Hon. Okiye, who expressed happiness at the magnanimity of the House, said it was purely Democratic.

While pledging to contribute his quota to the legislative business for the betterment of the State, Hon. Okiye said the speakership position is a privileged one.

The Speaker, Hon. Marcus Onobun, urged members of the Press to assist in debunking rumours making the rounds that there is crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly, emphasizing that the ten members of the House are as united as ever.

The Speaker earlier presented a letter from the Peoples Democratic Party, requesting the House to approve Hon. Emma Okoduwa as the Chief Whip of the House.

OKIYE REMOVED AS EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

Hon. Francis Okiye has been removed as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The impeachment moves followed a motion by the House Leader, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo, representing Ikpoba-Okha constituency and was seconded by the member representing Akoko Edo I constituency, Hon. Yekini Idaiye.

Hon. Ephraim Alusbhosele from Igueben constituency, then, moved a motion to nominate, Hon. Marcus Onobun from Esan West constituency as the new Speaker and the member representing Akoko Edo II constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje.

Following the impeachment, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Roland Asoro who presided over the Plenary, subjected the motion to a voice vote and the members unanimously elected marcus Onobun as the new Speaker.

The new Speaker who consequently dissolved all the standing committees of the House, thanked members for electing him as the new Speaker.

While placing Hon. Okiye on three months Suspension, the new Speaker constituted a three-man committee to investigate the financial records of the House under Hon. Okiye’s leadership.

HAIR STYLIST SENTENCE TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY

A High Court sitting at Aiguobasimwin in Benin City has sentenced a hair stylist, Esosa Napoleon, to death by hanging for armed robbery charges.

The Court came to the conclusion that the convict committed the offence in the midnight of 26th January 2016 at Aiguobasimwin Crescent, G.R.A, Benin City.

According to the evidence of one Osagiede, the 1st Prosecution Witness, PW1, the convict broke into their house that night, ordered him and his wife to lie flat on the ground, collected his belt and the sum of eight thousand hundred naira from the pocket of his trousers.

He testified that the convict the used the knife he was holding to tear his daughter’s trousers, emphasizing that as the convict was trying to rape the girl, he summoned up courage and attacked the convict who fell down while two other ladies who are co-tenants in the house joined him to hold the convict down.

Osagiede also told the court that the convict, however, injured the daughter with the knife and a distress should by one of the daughters attracted a neighbour who called the Police at Aideyan and the convict was arrested at the scene.

The court noted that while there was evidence that the convict was arrested at the scene of crime owing to the brave action of the PW1, there was no evidence to the contrary.

In his defence, the convict said he was coming from a party at ISNO Hotel, at Ikpokpan road, and passed through Aiguobasimwin Crescent so as to take a bus from Boundary road junction to Ring road.

He testified that on his way, he saw flashes of torchlight pointed at him and while still walking, he raised his hands up over his eyes and asked if they were mad.

The hair stylist stated that he was stopped and asked who he was insulting but he didn’t reply and they asked where he was coming from and where he was going and he told them, stressing that he was searched and his nineteen thousand naira was taken by them before they threw him into a Police vehicle.

Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, observed that the convict’s evidence in court was different from his statement to the Police which was a confessional statement.

The court held that there was evidence that the person who entered their apartment that night was the convict and that they all have evidence to the fact that the PW1 bravely attacked him when he tried to rape PW 3 and they all joined PW1 to hold down the intruder until the Police came, arrested him and recovered a knife from him as well as the money and belt he robbed from the house.

” I have looked and examined the statement of the Defendant in exhibit A before the court. The Defendant narrated what happened in his statement. I find that the Defendant’s statement is corroborated by the evidence of the PW1, PW2 and PW3.

The court according convicted and sentenced him to death by hanging for the offence charged.