● Victims express worry over frequent adjournments of case
The Edo State Police Commissioner’s bid to arraign Chief Benjamin Ikani before a Magistrate Court in Auchi, Edo State, for alleged trial by ordeal of some natives of Uzanu community is being impeded by the frequent adjournments that the case has suffered.
Trial by ordeal, an ancient method of determining guilt or innocence, is explicitly prohibited by the Nigerian Criminal Code.
Specifically, Section 207(i) of the Criminal Code declares such trials unlawful and outlines penalties for those who participate or oversee them.
The historical practice involved subjecting the accused to a potentially painful or dangerous ordeal to determine guilt or innocence.
According to available information, the case was filed by the Police with the arraignment date fixed for December 12, 2024.
The Magistrate Court, in Auchi, acknowledged the filing of the complaint on January 7, 2025.
About five months after the filing of the complaint by the Police Commissioner, the case has yet to commence due to the characteristic absence of the defendants in court.
Listed as 1st to 6th defendants respectively in the case are Chief Benjamin Ikani (Male, 53 years), Ikpemhi Okogie (Male, 27 years), Eshemogie Clifford (Male, 30 years), Jimoh Daniel (Male, 42 years), Anthony Adamu (Male, 53 years) and Akuda James (Male, 40 years).
The constant adjournments of the case have reportedly heightened the worries of the victims of trial by ordeal allegedly ordered by Ikani in his capacity as the Oliola of Uzanu community in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.
There are, however, reports that the Oliola-in-Council (Kingmakers of Uzanu) has removed Chief Ikani as the Oliola by a resolution of the Council even as other narratives said that he is still holding on to the Staff of office, which is a formal symbol of his kingly authority.
The suit, filed before Magistrate M. Oare, contains seven counts bordering on trial by ordeal meted out to Julie Abide and Esther Okwiufu.
The specifics of the defendants’ offences are contained in the court papers/filings.
Meanwhile, the victims, according to feelers, are worried that the matter is frequently adjourned due to the failure of the defendants to appear in court, a development they feared could lead to denial of justice.
