The Cross River State High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police to arrest and produce a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Joseph Mbu, for pros­ecution.

Naija News reports that this is the second time the court will be issuing such order.

The court had earlier issued a warrant of arrest on him on November 2, 2022, and adjourned the case to De­cember 6, 2022, for the police to produce its former officer, but they again failed to do so.

Justice Ukpai Ibitam or­dered the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to produce Joseph Mbu at its next sitting on January 9, 2023, over a mur­der case he is connected with.

The judge gave a fresh warrant of arrest on the defendant before adjourn­ing the case to January 9, 2023.

He charged the Nigeria Police to ensure the retired police officer is available in court on that day unfailingly.

Naija News reports that the Cross River State government had ear­lier this year arraigned the former AIG over the alleged murder of one late Ayuk Etta Ngon, at Bendeghe-Ekiem, Etung Local Government Area of the state on Decem­ber 24, 2018.

A charge sheet in suit no: HC/40C/2021, has it that: “Mbu Joseph Mbu, on the 24th of December, 2018, along Ndung Stream road, Bende­ghe Ekiem, Etung, killed one Ayuk Etta Ngon, contrary to section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol. 3 Laws of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004.”

Mbu had refused to appear in court since the beginning of the case but his lawyer had represented him despite the court reported­ly ordering his presence.

This article was originally published on Naija News

Source: News