By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin
One of the four dismissed policemen Adeleke Adedeji, who has beenremanded in the prison custody for alleged stealing, murder and.conspiracy, has said he does not want to die in prison over a curable disease and for an offence he did not commit.
Adeleke’s plea for release was contained in a suit filed by hisSolicitors, Mr Paul Osarenkhoe at the Federal High Court in Benin.
It will be recalled that Adeleke and three other policemen serving in the Special Anti Robbery Squad,SARS, Lagos were arrested and remanded in prison custody for allegedly torturing and killing a car dealer,Benson Obode in Benin.
The four policemen were also accused of stealing the sum of N330,000 from the account of late Obode using his ATM card after they have killed him.
It took the family of Benson 63 days to locate the morgue where his corpse was deposited as unknown.
Other policemen are Oniyo Musa aged 35, Abena John aged 33 and HenryShobowale aged 32.
They were remanded in prison custody by an Oredo Magistrates court and have since remained in custody waiting for trial.
In the suit, Adeleke is seeking a declaration that his continuous detention without trial since August 2015 for an alleged offence of conspiracy and murder was unreasonable, illegal and unconstitutional.
He is also seeking a declaration ordering his release unconditionally pending a formal arraignment.
In an affidavit to support the motion, wife of Adeleke, Modupe, said her husband has been managing a life-threatening ailment and has been advised to abstain from strenuous activities.
She stated that her husband’s health condition has deteriorated as aresult of the prison condition adding that the Benin Prisons lacked the facilities to manage his health.
In a counter affidavit by Legal Officer of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Ledee N-ueh, urged the court to dismiss the suit with cost as it was incompetent, frivolous, misconceived and an abuse of court processes.
Ledee said the dismissed police officers came to Benin without anauthorization to arrest the deceased.
Presiding Judge, Justice Olayinka Tokode adjourned the case for rulinguntil April 18,2016
