An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, the state capital, has ordered the remand of the 54-year-old Head of Tactical Teams of Edo State Security Network (ESSN), Mr Osarenren Johnson (A.K.A. Small Baba), over alleged murder and other crimes.
Small Baba, it would be recalled, was arrested alongside others by the police command in the state following a bloodbath that recently occurred in Okhunmwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo, which led to the death of no fewer than eight (8) persons.
The police said that Small Baba was arrested for leading other members of his team, who were killed in an ambush at Okhunmwun, which the police said was not his Area of Responsibility, without due authority.
The accused, whose address was not provided, is facing a six-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, armed attack on Okhunmwun Community, promoting an armed attack on the Community, and cultism before the state high court.
The charge reads in part: “That you Osarenren Johnson ‘m’ (A.K.A Small Baba) and others now at large, on or about the 21st day of September 2023, at Okhunmwun Community, near Benin City, within the Benin Criminal Division, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 247 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”
“That you, Osarenren Johnson’m’ (A.K.A. Small Baba) and others now at large, on or about the 21st day of September 2023, at Okhunmwun, near Benin, within the Benin Criminal Division, did murder one Osas Orobor’m’ and Endurance Ighoretin’m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”
“That you, Osarenren Johnson’m’ (A.K.A. Small Baba) and others now at large, on the same date, place, and in the aforesaid Criminal Division, did attempt to murder one Peter Omoregie’m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 243(1) of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”
“That you Osarenren Johnson’m’ (A.K.A. Small Baba) and others now at large, on or about the 21st day of September 2023, at Okhunmwun Community, near Benin City, within the Benin Criminal Division, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Promoting Armed Attack on Community and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”
“That you, Osarenren Johnson’m’ (A.K.A. Small Baba) and others now at large, on the same date, place, and in the aforesaid Criminal Division, did carry out an armed attack against a section of the people of Okhunmwun Community and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 64 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2023.”
“That you, Osarenren Johnson’m’ (A.K.A. Small Baba), on or about the year 2022 in Benin City, within the Benin Criminal Division, did become a member of Eiye Secret Cult Confraternity and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 44(a) of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2023.”
The police, through a Motion Ex Parte, numbered B/CD/2777m/23 dated September 29, 2023, sought an order from the court to remand the accused (Small Baba) in a correctional custodial centre for an initial period of 14 days pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the case.
It submitted that Section 293(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State, 2016, provided that “a suspect arrested for an offence for which a Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction to try shall, within a reasonable time of arrest, be brought before a High Court for remand.”
The complainant (police), who supported the Motion with an eight-paragraph Affidavit and one exhibit, prayed the court to grant the application in the interest of justice and the circumstances of the case.
The court, after listening to the submissions of the complainant, granted the application and adjourned the case to November 8, 2023.
