Murder case: Defendant rejects statement

A defendant, Mathew Ankyoor, in a case of alleged culpable
homicide told an FCT High Court, Maitama, on Friday that he was
forced to write a confessional statement dictated to him by the
police.

Ankyoor is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on
killing his wife who was pregnant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant who
was first arraigned on Oct. 24, 2017, had pleaded not guilty.

The judge, Justice Peter Affen, ordered for trial – within-
trial to ascertain the voluntariness of the statement made by
Ankyoor to the police.

Affen gave the order after the defendant’s counsel, Ocheme
Adama, objected to the tendering of the statement in evidence by
the prosecuting counsel, Donatus Abah, through his first witness,
Insp. Raymond Isama

Ankyoor, led in evidence by his counsel, Adama, told the court
that he was brought from Lugbe on June 9, 2017, to FCT Police
Command Office, Homicide Section, where he made a statement.

” The words were dictated to me, I was slapped, hit and forced
to write what they(police ) are dictating to me.

“ The statements like `I was surprised,’ `my wife blocked my way
and held the T-shirt I was wearing so strong’ and `I brought a taxi
and took her to Wuse General Hospital, ” were also dictated to
me.

The prosecution witness, ASP John Utache, who endorsed the
statements of Ankyoor, told the court that the confessional
statements were made by the defendant voluntarily.

” He wrote it voluntarily, he was not tortured , intimidated nor
under duress, he told me he wrote it voluntarily when he was
brought by Insp. Raymond Isama, of the Homicide Section of the FCT
Police Command,’’ he said.

The judge after listening to the counsel and witnesses adjourned
until March 20, for adoption of written addresses on the
trial-within –trial, and April 16 for continuation of hearing.

A defendant, Mathew Ankyoor, in a case of alleged culpable
homicide told an FCT High Court, Maitama, on Friday that he was
forced to write a confessional statement dictated to him by the
police.

Ankyoor is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on
killing his wife who was pregnant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant who
was first arraigned on Oct. 24, 2017, had pleaded not guilty.

The judge, Justice Peter Affen, ordered for trial – within-
trial to ascertain the voluntariness of the statement made by
Ankyoor to the police.

Affen gave the order after the defendant’s counsel, Ocheme
Adama, objected to the tendering of the statement in evidence by
the prosecuting counsel, Donatus Abah, through his first witness,
Insp. Raymond Isama

Ankyoor, led in evidence by his counsel, Adama, told the court
that he was brought from Lugbe on June 9, 2017, to FCT Police
Command Office, Homicide Section, where he made a statement.

” The words were dictated to me, I was slapped, hit and forced
to write what they(police ) are dictating to me.

“ The statements like `I was surprised,’ `my wife blocked my way
and held the T-shirt I was wearing so strong’ and `I brought a taxi
and took her to Wuse General Hospital, ” were also dictated to
me.

The prosecution witness, ASP John Utache, who endorsed the
statements of Ankyoor, told the court that the confessional
statements were made by the defendant voluntarily.

” He wrote it voluntarily, he was not tortured , intimidated nor
under duress, he told me he wrote it voluntarily when he was
brought by Insp. Raymond Isama, of the Homicide Section of the FCT
Police Command,’’ he said.

The judge after listening to the counsel and witnesses adjourned
until March 20, for adoption of written addresses on the
trial-within –trial, and April 16 for continuation of hearing.